Goals of 2007 Field Season
MPP Hisban Phase II was begun in 1996 as an effort to clean, restore, preserve and transform into an archaeological park Tal Hisban in Jordan - the site which during the seventies had been the focus of Andrews University's Heshbon Expedition (Phase I). It soon became apparent that there as a large part of the "Tal Hisban story" - especially its post-classical or Islamic history - that could benefit from further excavation. The 2007 season is a continuation of research focused primarily on the Islamic history of Hesban during the summers of 1997, 1998, 2001 and 2004. The 2007 season will test a series of hypotheses with regard to the following: I. Nature of Early Islamic occupation at Hesban; II. Relationship of medieval village to the citadel; III. Impact of the Tanzimat on the modern village; IV. Impact of Islamic-period agricultural practices. Our plans also call for limited exploration of the nature of the use of the summit in the Classical and pre-Classical periods and for wrap-up and celebration of work completed to restore and present the site under a grant from the U.S. Department of State's Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation.
I. Nature of medieval reuse of summit
Much of the standing architecture on the western end of the summit dates to the Middle Islamic period and forms contemporary complexes. The governors' complex (Area L) and a smaller and more humble domestic structure to the north (Area N) were excavated in teh 1998, 2001, and 2004 seasons, after initial explorations in the 1970s. Occupation in the tell in this period, on first examination, seems to have obliterated traces of earlier occupation, with removal of previous structures to foundation levels. On closer inspection of the stratigraphy, however, it is clear that the medieval occupants removed some structures and reused or transformed others. The possible transformation of a Roman nymphaeum into a bathhouse, the medieval reuse of a Byzantine storeroom, and the reorientation of corridors from original Roman entrance can best be investigated by opening a new field for excavation.
This pattern of transformation of classical remains in the medieval era has been recently uncovered in the southeast tower and northern gate, which were subject to exploratory excavation and restoration by Maria Ronza last year.
II. Relationship of medieval village to the citadel
Although it survived into the 15th century, the medieval village of Hisban suffered when the Egyptian government abandoned the center in the 1340's after an earthquake, moving the district capital to 'Amman. Important institutions, such as the law court, were relocated even though a market (much reduced in size) and schools remained. At its height, the medieval village occupied the slopes of the tell and much of the extent of the modern village. By the century's end, the village shrank in size, and the center shifted away from the tell to a location better suited to farming and nearer a more reliable water supply.
Expansion of excavation in Field C on the western slopes of the tell, begun in 2004, aims to document the growth and subsequent contraction of the physical village of this period and its relationship to the physical environment. We will excavate adjoining complexes (likely farmhouses and courtyards) in four 5x5 meter squres and collect soil samples for palaeobotanical analysis in the United States and bones for faunal analysis in-country.
III. Impact of the Tanzimat on the modern village
The Ottoman state sought to recover provincial tax revenues in the 19th century through a series of reforms known as the Tanzimat. By requiring tribal groups to register communally-held land under one name and providing financial incentives for commercial production, the Land Law of 1858 heavily impacted areas of previously low intensity settlement, such as central Jordan. At this time the modern village of Hisban was established. The shift of the settlement from the slopes of the tell, the wadis, hillsides and caves to the location of today's village can be documented archaeologically. The transition from subsistence to market production, moreover, introduced even more changes in storage facilities and the kinds of crops grown. Village power relations were also transformed with these socio-economic changes.
The physical, social, and economic impact of the Tanzimat locally will be evaluated, in part, through continued excavation of the late Ottoman complexes located on the southwest slopes of the tell - Field O. To this end we will open several new squares and expand collection of soils for palaobotanical analysis and bones for faunal analysis. Two additional goals of this field season are to begin seriation and typological study of Ottoman period wares from the site and the development of a typology of Ottoman vernacular architecture, a template of which was developed by the Northern Jordan Project in 2006. In addition, we will continue to collect and analyze Ottoman-period economic documents (tax and land survey registers) to flesh the economic impact of the Tanzimat on this village and the Madaba Plains as a whole.
IV. Nature of classical reuse of the summit
The discovery of a cave complex with Iron Age-period sherds in the northeast corner tower of the summit in 1998 and a Thamudi cfunerary inscription (in situ) and Roman-period olive press (?) downslope from that tower in 2001 and 2004 suggest that this part of the site (Field M) served a variety of functions in the pre-Classical and Classical periods. Excavation to clarify the occupational sequence of this little explored part of the tell and to determine to what degree this part of the tell was devoted to industrial enterprises in the Classical and pre-Classical periods.
Edited 04/18/07 jlpc
