Anthropology researchers have considerable moral and ethical standards by which their work must be conducted in order to preserve the accuracy and posterity of the information gathered during the study as well as that of people or cultures. which they study. These two important parts of anthropology – the research and the people studied – can be contradictory. The American Anthropological Association's Code of Ethics stands as a set of guidelines for discussing these ethical and moral conflicts. This allows researchers in the field of anthropology to have a basis for understanding what decisions should be made regarding these ethical and moral conflicts and to whom disclosures of these decisions should be made. The world of anthropology is closely linked to research on humans and their cultures. One of the most important principles of the American Anthropological Association (AAA) Code of Ethics is found in Part III, Section A, Number 1: "Anthropological researchers have overriding ethical obligations to people, species and materials they study and towards them. the people they work with. (American Anthropological Association, 2009) This fundamental principle helps guide social scientists through a maze of ethical dilemmas, such as whether and how the research itself can harm or otherwise impact those with whom they work. are studying. Although the goal of research may be to gain knowledge about the plight of an individual or group of individuals, sharing this knowledge may bring unwanted attention to the person(s) being studied. Using the Code of Ethics, the framework has been established such that the researcher is guided "to actively consult...... middle of article...... anthropological and other social sciences the basis for forming non-biased study results that can be respectfully referenced and trusted for their integrity. Works Cited American Anthropological Association. (2009, February). Code of Ethics of the American Anthropological Association. Retrieved March 9, 2012, from the American Anthropological Association: http://www.aaanet.org/issues/policy-advocacy/Code-of-Ethics.cfmColson, E. (2006). Case 21: Ethical dilemmas and moral responsibilities. Handbook on ethical issues in anthropology. Forbes, J. (1998). Kennewick Man: A Legal Historical Analysis. Retrieved from the University of California Department of Native American Studies: http://nas.ucdavis.edu/Forbes/kennwick.htmlTo cite this work: Follow, Darla. (2012, April). The moral and ethical dilemmas of anthropology. Saint Léon University.