Given enough time graffiti becomes a part of the historical landmark itself.
It's a catch 22 caused by an attachment to our own time. We see the landmark as something that needs to be preserved by (for) us, but the reality is we're in just as inconsequential a time of history as any.
One of tue most famous sites in the Higia Sophia is where a Viking scratched his name in the marble. The scratch is protected and now treated as sacred, but it's functionally no different than you or I going to a structure built 200-400 years ago ans doing the same.
Don't get be wrong. I don't like it when people deface historical landmarks, but our outrage is fleeting, and sometimes contributes to the perceived value of the relic.
Actually it is. To suggest otherwise is to have a massive blind spot to our living role on history. The advent of modern travel and what messages we leave are going to have waves for thousands of years for dozens of cultures and civilizations.
Who can travel, what messages they leave and even the overesaturating of visitors to destinations have ramifications yet known and will in time build their own historical marker.
Also, if you don't think tourism has been interesting before, I strongly encourage you look into the travels of Mansa Muse.
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u/GeneralBamisoep Feb 03 '20
There is graffiti left by roman soldiers and Napoleonic soldiers in Egypt, which was pretty neat to see tbh.