They Were Here: Graffiti by Tourists in the Ancient City of Jerash, Jordan

Eroded graffiti by the hundreds can be seen on the features of the ancient city of Jerash. One hundred and eighty-seven distinct graffiti were selected for the purposes of our study to provide insight on forms of graffiti and the motives for creating them. Four field visits were conducted, where forms and photos were used for documenting the graffiti. Left by visitors who wanted to memorialize their visits, no frequent patterns could be found. Yet, analyses like the one presented here are of significance since they document a very common problem at heritage sites that affects the sites’ aesthetic and archaeological value. In addition, this article offers a set of recommendations on how to prevent this form of vandalism.