Graffiti is as old as humans; from cave walls to the Colosseum in Rome, right up to modern day. But what is ‘graffiti’ in the oldest sense of the word, what separates historic graffiti from modern and why is old graffiti preserved and studied? In this exciting YouTube Live session Kevin Booth, English Heritage curator and graffiti expert will be addressing these questions and more as he leads a virtual tour of sites across England to find examples of historic graffiti hidden on the walls and inscribed on collections in the English Heritage portfolio.
We’ll also drop into Berwick Barracks where participants from a local Young Archaeologists’ Club will reveal the creative approach they took to help understand the 300 year old graffiti they discovered in the Barracks. We’ll find out how graffiti can help unlock hidden histories and shine a light on lesser-known stories, such as those of the prisoners held at Berwick Barracks during the Jacobite rising in 1715. There will be the opportunity to put your questions to our presenters and have your questions answered live on air!
The event is available online to watch at any time. Catch up at the link below!
