Computer Generated Grave Marker- Find a Grave Profile

Question

There has been some discussion here lately of cemetery markers/headstones that appear to be computer generated. I came across this one today and I thought I would share it. The tip off in this case is that the F.A.G. profile manager added "Burial Unknown." I discovered that there is in fact a real stone for Jacob Cline so this profile is a duplicate. I let the profile manager know. I just wanted to let everyone at WT know that if a 100+ year-old grave marker looks this good, it is probably isn't real.

Comments

It is important to note this but remember also that there are researchers who belittle wikitree because of the suggestions for formatting in the margin when you create a profile. They say that wikitree creates "fake sources", which it does not.

Here is the page that displays the image you are commenting about:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/115423414/jacob-cline

Here is the page that displays the real stone:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/153043175/jacob-cline

Find a Grave is full of sloppy work where people cut and paste from their genealogy programs. Especially bad when they make duplicate profiles like the one we are discussing. Find a Grave is also full of wonderful contributions from cemetery volunteers. Everyone should be clear on these caveats by now.

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"Everyone should be clear on these caveats by now."

I agree Dina. But remember, every day WT has new people joining us. And new Wikitreer's aren't clear on anything.

Answer 1

This is the first I am hearing of this.  This particular example is clearly "photoshopped."  You can see the aspect is off, meaning the lettering looks centered, but the headstone has a slight angle.  I have seen instances where later ancestors provided or replaced a stone, but there will still be something of nature or weathering to the stone.  Even a bird dropping.

So, are you saying that people are making up fake headstones and posting them at Find A Grave?  I wouldn't care if it were marked as an artist's rendition or an obvious hand-drawing.  Better to put a photo of the person than something like this that will mislead some into thinking this headstone depiction could be a source, however flimsy.

Comments

There are lots of sites like this one that allow you to create fake gravestones

http://futuregravestone.com/