Hi,
I stumbled upon a relatively small sculptured stone and decided to submit it. The carving represents a human face, it is about 20 cm (8 inches) in height and was clearly visible from the picture. I think it takes a lot of experience and skills to create something like that.
I also left some notes (in the supplemental information) explaining how to see it on street view (low resolution, but the face is visible) to make sure people would not mistake it for an AI edited picture.
It got rejected by the automated system so I appealed, writing a note that explained that the automated system may have missed the face and mistaken it for a common stone.
The person that checked my appeal rejected it with the following reason: "The nomination in question does not meet the Wayfarer criteria as it is a regular rock. "
Now, if the reason was something like “this example of art is not unique enough” I wouldn’t have agreed but still I would have ended it there. It’s describing it as a “regular rock” that doesn’t make sense.
Below you can find the screenshots as well as the copy-and-paste of the text. I have also added a screenshot of the 360 photo from street view, with the carved stone marked, and another picture I have taken today, from a different angle.
Also, copying and pasting the links provided by the reviewer led only to a “we cannot seem to find the page that you have requested” message.
Screenshots:
New pictures:
Entire submission process text:
Blockquote
Wayspot Submission for Volto nella roccia
SO
Appeal Not Accepted
2026-09-03
Appeal Notes
This candidate got rejected by the automated process and I am not sure about the reason. It is a stone with a face carved on it and it was made by a local artist that has “hidden” other artworks in unexpected places in the area. The author is Angelo Gabriele Fierro, you can find pictures of other sculptures he made with an online search and also verify that the style matches. My best guesses are that the automated system may have: (a) mistaken it for a simple stone (missing the human face carving), (b) mistakenly labeled the carving as a real human face, (c) mistakenly considered the photo as edited with AI (but a person can verify it is really there with street view and a bit of patient, I had provided tips in two languages on how to do it). The artwork is clearly not on a private property and the signs in the additional picture clearly shows that the area is only for pedestrians and bicycles. It should be relevant since it is art and a unique piece. By the way, the automated system should be revised to provide at least basic information about why something was rejected.
Niantic Note
Thanks for the appeal, Wayfinder! The nomination in question does not meet the Wayfarer criteria as it is a regular rock. If this assessment is not accurate, please resubmit the nomination with additional context. We recommend you review the Wayspot Criteria and Forum Criteria Discussions Library sections before submitting your next Wayspot contribution: https://niantic.helpshift.com/hc/en/21-wayfarer and https://niantic.helpshift.com/hc/en/21-wayfarer/faq/4693-forum-criteria-discussions-library/
Reviewers provided these top reasons for not accepting this submission:
- The submission lacks uniqueness or historical and cultural meaning
Description
Bassorilievo ricavato da una roccia della zona e nascosto lungo una piccola stradina di campagna. Anche se non sono presenti informazioni, lo stile e la locazione suggeriscono che possa trattarsi di un’opera dello scultore locale Angelo Gabriele Fierro.
Location
Via Palotta 111, Traona, SO, Italy
Supplemental Information
English below. * Italiano: visibile da street view. C’era meno vegetazione quando è passata la macchina di Google. Puoi individuare il cartello dell’inizio della ciclopedonale e ingrandire vicino alla base per vedere il sasso inciso. * English: visible from street view. There wasn’t so much vegetation when the Google car visited last time. Check for the sign marking the beginning of the pedestrians/bicycles only area and zoom in near its base to see the carved stone. The style and unusual location suggests that it was created by a specific local artist.