As a bioarchaeologist who works with human remains from archaeological sites in order to reconstruct the lives of past peoples my research revolves around collaboration. Using my current research at an Early Bronze Age site in southern Jordan (Wadi Faynan 100) as a case study, I will explore what it means to be a researcher aiming to do ‘good science’, while also doing ‘science for good’. Working with the dead requires strong relationships with, and sensitivities to, not only your colleagues and national governments, but to the local communities without whom you could not do your work at all. One of my major research projects is examining the impacts of toxic trace metals on childhood health and development due to the development of metallurgy during the Early Bronze Age. This work exists in a sphere of interest and anxieties felt well beyond the academy. Acknowledging the complexities of interests and anxieties can provide valuable insights for anyone who aims to do collaborative work across disciplinary boundaries, in international settings, and with the consent of various public stakeholders.