Abstract
This texts aims at pointing out the existence of historical graffiti which we can consider a spectacular historical source. We shall try to underline their potential as a relevant source of information for many branches of humanities and to outline possible methods of and approaches to studying them.
Historical graffiti are in their material essence ephemeral sources, and as such they require attention of conservation and restoration care which they get only to a limited extent. Our article thus also points out the difficult issue of their conservation, restoration and final presentation in historical buildings.
This text also includes a brief summary of current research in the field of historical graffiti, as well as one case study which constitutes a very miscellaneous source of spontaneous inscriptions and drawings.