ABSTRACT
In this chapter we explore the nature and function of a sample of early prehistoric graffiti in the Andean area of the ancient Americas, few examples of which have been previously reported (Bischof 1994; Fuchs et al. 2006). The examples we describe here were lightly incised into the silty-clay plaster of ancient walls; few component lines exceed 1 to 2 mm in depth. As a result, many preserved examples of graffiti defy interpretation because they are incomplete or too abstract to connect with known Andean imagery. Nevertheless, even though the sample is small, very ancient, and represents preliterate cultural developments, it is possible to discuss changes and consistencies through time with respect to the context of the graffiti and the motivation of the artists.
