Impressions, trackways, and footprints are classified as what kind of evidence?

Impressions, trackways, and footprints are classified as fossils because they are direct traces of past life. Fossils encompass not just the remains of organisms (such as bones and shells), but also evidence of their behavior and movement. Impressions can capture details like the texture of skin or feathers, while trackways and footprints provide insights into how organisms moved, their size, and their interactions with the environment.

This classification as fossils highlights the significance of these traces in understanding paleoenvironments and the dynamics of ancient ecosystems. Fossils contribute to our knowledge of evolutionary history by documenting changes over geological time. In contrast, minerals, artifacts, and remnants refer to different types of materials or evidence that do not directly illustrate biological activity in the same way that fossils do.