The URJC, in search of historical graffiti

Alba Junquera

Rey Juan Carlos University is collaborating with Complutense University and the Polytechnic University of Madrid on the AVIPES-II-CM project (PHS-2024/PH-HUM-45), funded by the Community of Madrid. The project aims to record new historical graffiti, a type of inscription or drawing made intentionally on surfaces not originally intended for writing.

As part of this project, the research team recently conducted a field trip. The chosen location was the Lozoya Valley, given the rich cultural heritage preserved in many of its villages. “We also plan to explore other regions such as the Upper Manzanares Basin and the Middle Jarama Basin,” explains David Sánchez, a member of the HASTHGAR group.

The project process can be divided into three parts: surveying in the Community of Madrid, three-dimensional documentation, and subsequent data processing. After visiting areas of interest, the graffiti is documented using 3D techniques. A scanner is used to obtain the data, which is then processed with Geomagic software.

“In addition to the three-dimensional documentation (essential for the virtual archive), we work with Dstretch, which is an image processing software that applies various filters and allows us to highlight possible pictorial applications on the engravings or on the canvases of the walls themselves,” the researcher points out.

Regarding the results, the group notes that data collection was particularly challenging, as many of the churches visited in the area had undergone numerous restorations and cleaning operations. These actions damaged a significant portion of the graffiti. Satisfactory results were obtained in Alameda del Valle, Pinilla del Valle, and the municipality of Lozoya.

Researching epigraphic heritage—that is, studying ancient and medieval inscriptions engraved on durable materials—is fundamental to understanding cultural practices and everyday expressions that rarely appear in official sources. Various studies have highlighted their value as a voice for popular groups and historically underrepresented communities, making them essential tools for reconstructing daily life, uses of space, and social imaginaries of bygone eras.

With these actions, the URJC strengthens its contribution to the preservation and dissemination of Madrid's cultural heritage and advances in the generation of a more complete and accessible epigraphic archive, in line with the objectives of the AVIPES II project.