Battlefields have been the object of fascination for millions of tourists and the subjects of
elaborate interpretation projects. This volume will outline the process and results of
developing the WWII Maritime Heritage Trail: Battle of Saipan Project. This book will provide
examples of how a group of archaeologists managers and a community took a specific battle and
transformed it from a collection of unknown archaeological sites into a comprehensive storied
battlescape that reflects the individuals and actions of those who were involved. It will
provide an in-depth view of current maritime archaeological research on submerged battlefield
sites the development of a WWII battlefield maritime heritage trail as well as the problems
and solutions of such an effort. It will cover subjects such as: -heritage and dark
tourism-conflict or battlefield archaeology-public interpretation and community engagement.
This volume will serve as a practical review of a project influenced by a range of
complementary areas of study and inclusive of many stakeholders from the public to the
professional and beyond. It provides an example of a balanced approach towards research and
interpreting archaeological sites through the identification and inclusion of the various
stakeholders (professional and community) and an awareness of what was being included ignored
or inadequately represented in the research and interpretation.
