Old or New?? by harvey

Old or New??

I'm very curious about this which I just noticed today. Just behind the old aachen fishmarket I noticed these very faded red drawings on the wall, I brought them out significantly futzing with the red channel in RAW processing.

They caught my eye because it could be middle aged graffitti. When we were in Norway inside the stave church ( http://365project.org/harvey/365/2010-05-21) there were some places where there were some simple drawings done on the wall in the corner sometime in the middle ages, and as our tourguide pointed out, the normal person didn't have paper back then, so this was their canvas.

The stones were about the height that and adult would stand at when drawing. Below them you can see the sandstone is heavily cut, as the fishmarket was right here the fishmongers in the middle ages would sharpen their knives here on the sandstones of the building on the square.

So whats your vote, is this really old or just something some punk did recently? I dont have the answer but I'm curious on everyones thoughts.

Also since I've been doing this project I love the "community" feeling I am getting here, and several people have meantioned that they really like seeing all of the travels of my wife and I. We have been keeping a blog about our travels since we moved here at http://harveysde.blogspot.com/ I just finished a post tonight about biking in our area and posted quite a few shots from the ride I took two weeks ago, two of which ended up as daily shots for me. So if you want to know/see more check that out once in while, we generally post once every two weeks or so.
Steve, this is a great shot of the wall. I love the cuts in the sandstone. i would put a guess that the red drawings are recent, but I am a romantic and would like to believe they were done by a fishmonger in the middle ages!! love this story and you did a great job capturing it in this photo.
August 24th, 2010  
I am going with a punk doing it.
August 24th, 2010  
This is really cool! I love the deep cuts in the stone. While the drawings probably are new, I love the idea of them being some old doodles done by a fisherman all those long years ago. Great capture!
August 25th, 2010  
Good job at spotting this for a picture. Good eye.
August 25th, 2010  
What a new find! It would be so cool if they turn out to be really old...!
August 25th, 2010  
Interesting find!
August 25th, 2010  
What medium was used for the drawings and is the spot protected from the elements? I would think any place exposed to rain and sun would not maintain a drawing for long. I do like the way you brought out the red.
I went back and commented on your Viking church. Great picture. And now I'm going to explore your blog.
August 25th, 2010  
Well it looked to me almost like rust coming out of the stone, so as far as the medium I don't know. Although it is open to the elements and the more I think of it the more I think its probably something done recently with chalk, but its still an interesting shot I think!
August 25th, 2010  
Oh wow! I love this!
August 25th, 2010  
The colour makes me think they are more recent, though I guess ochre could have been used if that earth pigment is around there(?)
August 25th, 2010  
Hey Steve, I'm following you on your blog!
August 25th, 2010  
I'd guess newer, but who knows... Great shot of it though.
August 25th, 2010  
First...I enjoyed looking at the pictures on your blog, and yes, how endearing that you *know* how spoiled you two are...keep enjoying it, and I'm delighted you're sharing it with us, too! And your BBQ photos (and the story) were wonderful! It's wonderful, isn't it, to share a friendship with such an international community?! I have an understanding of the wonderful conversations you all must have when together http://365project.org/Weezilou/365/2010-08-23 Enjoy it while you have it there!
August 25th, 2010  
(Whew...just reread what I wrote and quite overused the "W" word! But you know what I mean!)

Your image today is so charming for the sponteniety of the drawings. I love that free-flowing sketching that's so popular currently in art journals, and this has that same feel. So "new" perhaps? But the deeply etched marks have a time-worn look...it's all quite enchanting!

And I can't leave without adding that I, too, love the comraderie in this community! Addictive, isn't it?!
August 25th, 2010  
Fascinating! I don't have a clue but it is very interesting to speculate. I checked out your blog. It's fun to arm chair travel with 365 members.
August 25th, 2010  
Im going for newer but love the contrast with the deeply etched stones below.
August 26th, 2010  
Great textures in this photo!
August 26th, 2010  
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