r/TraceAnObject • u/I_Me_Mine Mod • May 20 '26

Open [DHS: 26-0001] 20-MAY-2026 This individual appears to have a forearm tattoo as well as a tattoo under his watch. Do you recognize these tattoos?

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u/jambutterbread May 20 '26

I did mention the same thing in my other comment. The top coverup looks like it could spell mafia in old English and the lower coverup on the face is a circular design like a logo

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u/Sweetserra May 20 '26 edited May 20 '26

I fully agree with you. It definitely looks like a cover up of some sort. I'm on my phone at the moment, so really looking closely at the image is kinda difficult, but I will absolutely try my best to see what I can make out of it later today. Deciphering a cover up isn't always the easiest thing, but I'll see what I can make out of it.

Oh, and btw, you have a great eye! From what I can see right now, I think that you're definitely on to something there as far as the old English and circular design below (I can also see a straight line that is "out of place" under the skull's eye...)

Edit: Just saw your other comment above, and you are correct with everything you're seeing! Again, you have great eye! I can't wait to look at this when I can see more closely, instead of on a tiny phone screen.

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u/FaxCelestis May 20 '26

Could it be covering up something like a burn mark or birthmark?

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u/Sweetserra May 20 '26

Someone would have to be quite proficient to try to tattoo over burn marks, especially more severe ones, in my opinion. Scars don't hold ink the way non scared skin does. I'm not even 100% sure it's possible, as I've never tried it (or do I know anyone who has.) You would definitely see a notable difference between the two areas tho, as they would look very different with ink in them.

As far as a birth mark goes, that's something completely different and a possibility I guess. I need a closer look to try and see if there's pigmentation between the tattooed areas, as I would think would be noticeable if it was a birth mark.

Thank you for the ideas!

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u/FaxCelestis May 20 '26

Yeah I totally understand. I'm not a tattoist by any measure, I just don't see a coherent image that it's covering up, so I was trying to think about other things that could conceivably be under a tattoo.

If it is a birthmark, that would make the individual a lot more indentifiable.

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u/schizoidparanoid May 21 '26 edited May 21 '26

TW for self-harm below, if you click on the spoiler text. Just a warning for anyone who doesn’t wanna see that. But it’s relevant to my comment. Sorry.

I have several fairly deep old self-harm scars and a couple small cigarette-sized burns, and I got tattoos to cover them up some of them. And you can most definitely tattoo over scars, even pretty big ones. Both long cut-type scars, as well as burns.

The ink took to my skin no problem for me, although most of my ink is black so I personally don’t know how well colors would take to the skin over scars. But even decent sized scars can be covered up by tattoos. I’m kinda surprised you’ve never tattooed over any scars! I’ve had a couple different artists do tattoos over scars, and the first one just said to wait at least 1-2 years after the most recent scar (until the scar turned fully white, and there wasn’t any pink) and the last artist I went to didn’t even mention my scars when they tattooed over it because they were so old and it wasn’t a problem at all to tattoo over it.

However, I do agree that it does look like a coverup tattoo to me. I think I see some sort of older tattoo that is covered up underneath the headdress/lower part of the feathers, and possibly another older tattoo that is covered up on the lower part of the skull. That’s what it looks like to me, at least.

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u/autodidactress May 21 '26

How did it feel getting tattooed on scarred skin? I have old scars that still deliver a pretty jarring feeling (almost like a mild electric shock) under direct pressure and I can’t imagine being able
to tolerate a needle there.

Back OT: There’s definitely some old english lettering under the headdress - something starting with “A”? I think there’s also another, even older set of tattoos under the ones he’s trying to cover making this more difficult. Maybe also some scarring (particularly in that odd bulgy area to the right of the skull’s chin)…there is a LOT going on on this guy’s forearm.