It was through this contact with the sea that Malta sustained its social, economic and religious life. The drawing of these graffiti was also made easy by the soft nature of the Globigerina Limestone. It is thought that at least some of these maritime graffiti were drawn on the walls of churches in a superstitious ‘ritual’ to bring good luck in a subsequent voyage by sea.

Other graffiti were drawn by soldiers while on guard, in prisons and also as a way to pass the time. One of the oldest graffiti (or so it is assumed), is located in Tarxien temples and it shows what are thought as prehistoric boats. It is not clear whether these graffiti date from the temple period or from a later period.