‘You've Come a Long Way to Study Something That is Bad’

Archaeological studies of modern conflict can present significant methodological challenges. Not only must archaeologists prepare to encounter materials related to death and violence, but they must also manage any potential trepidation that arises from reviving painful pasts and deal with the political impacts of interpretations. Modern conflict archaeology, however, is in its infancy and many of its ethical challenges have not been sufficiently addressed. This chapter provides an example of how archaeologists in Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, have addressed some of the ethical and methodological issues surrounding the studies of World War II. Ultimately, the chapter advocates for a methodology that incorporates both bottom-up and top-down strategies in order to ensure public involvement and the ethical treatment of archaeological materials related to death and violence.