How the archive is built

Methodology

Methodology explains how public cemetery and burial data is normalized into a usable page system. It is the operational layer behind the archive, not a vague trust statement.

Step 01

Normalize location hierarchy

Records are organized into states, counties, cemeteries, and burial entries so URLs reflect actual research flow.

Step 02

Preserve source distinctions

We keep source identity visible to avoid mixing veteran burial data with cemetery location data as though they were identical records.

Step 03

Generate page-level context

SEO metadata, schema, breadcrumbs, and reference sections are generated so each page explains itself clearly to users and search engines.

Methodology matters because cemetery archives are often assembled from datasets that were never designed to work together.

What gets normalized

Slugs, geographic hierarchy, display names, and page metadata are all normalized so pages can scale without losing editorial structure.

What gets reviewed manually

Source interpretation, page language, FAQ copy, disclaimers, and future editorial sections should be reviewed with human judgment. Automation helps scale structure, but trust depends on how clearly the archive explains uncertain or partial data.

What users should understand

A page can be technically valid while still reflecting limitations from the original source. Methodology is where the site makes that distinction visible, especially for coordinates, cemetery naming, veteran context, and burial record completeness.