Claim: Ancient Maya graffiti went from being thought of as "crude scrawls"of squatters to "folk art" produced by Classic Maya elite artists because three pairs of graffiti found at two sites 81 miles apart possess similar design and quality amd are almost certain to have been done by the same artist.
Evidence: Early opinions on Maya graffiti were that they represented the crude scrawls of Postclassic squatters in Classic-period ruins. Later investigators, such as George F. Andrews, regarded graffiti as folk art produced by the Classic Maya elite in their own residences and workplaces. Three pairs of graffiti found both at Río Bec and Holmul (sites separated by over 130 kilometres (81 mi)), with similar quality, and technique, possess such similarity in design, down to the smallest details, that they are almost certain to be the product of the same untrained Late Classic artist.