Claim: Mayan graffiti, scratched into surfaces using pointed tools, portray a variety of themes and range of topics, and preliminary studies suggest that the authors of graffiti were not trained artists.
Evidence: Ancient Maya graffiti portray a wide variety of themes from ancient Maya life, from the everyday to high ceremony, and are now regarded as an important source providing insight into ancient Maya society; subjects appear to be those witnessed by the artist. Preliminary studies indicate that most ancient Maya graffiti were executed by members of the Late Classic elite class, in their own residences and workplaces, and that most of the authors of graffiti were not trained artists. Maya graffiti were scratched onto the targeted surface using some kind of pointed tool.