Tall Hesban Restoration Project – Phase I
Final Report
Introduction
Tall Hisban’s excavators are pleased to be among the applicants selected for funding by the U. S. Department of State through the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation. The restoration project is a partnership of Andrews University, the Department of Antiquities of Jordan and the Municipality of Hisban.
The general director of the project is Andrews University anthropologist Oystein S. LaBianca, and co-director and chief archaeologist is Bethany Walker from Grand Valley State University. The chief restoration archaeologist, Maria Elena Ronza, is the principal author of this report.
The project consists of four phases as follows:
Phase I: Construction of a new gate and preliminary restoration studies (34 days-July 24 to August 27, 2005)
Since the present entrance and parking lot at Tall Hisban does not permit large tour busses to enter and park, a new, larger gate and an improved parking lot has to be constructed to improve the situation for tourists.
Phase II: Southeast tower and northern gate and wall (62 days-January 21 to March 23, 2006)
After clarifying the historical architectural phases of the tower and the northern wall, the necessary preservation, consolidation and restoration has to be carried out according to the results of the historical research. One course of the door jamb of the northern gate and some blocks of the wall will be reconstructed by anastilosis.
Phase III: Byzantine church and underground structure (55 days-April 29 to June 22, 2006)
Several columns and capitals of the church will be raised up and other architectural elements rehabilitated on the basis of a comparative study of similar pieces belonging to the same building. The underground structure on the northern side of the apse, which was excavated in 1968 (Boraas and Horn 1969: 142-165) and in 1971 (Boraas and Horn 1973: 17-34), will be cleaned, preserved and, if necessary, consolidated.
Phase IV: Roman plaza (34 days—October 29 to December 6, 2006)
Further excavations aim to completely expose and restore as needed the stone-slab pavement of the so called “Roman market plaza,” which was excavated in 1968, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1976 (Boraas and Horn 1969: 165-217; Boraas and Horn 1973: 35-71, 89-112; Boraas and Horn 1975: 133-167, 183-202; Boraas and Geraty 1976: 29-62, 79-99; Boraas and Geraty 1978: 31-49, 109-128).
At the request of the mayor of Hisban, the construction of the gate planned for phase I was postponed to phase IV. For this reason, the exposure and the restoration of the “Roman plaza” was moved to phase I.
Phase I
Phase I lasted five weeks from July 24 to August 27 (See attached plan.). The main aims of the season were:
- cleaning the tourist pathways and structures exposed during the past seasons of excavation;
- exposing and restoring, as needed, the so-called “Roman plaza” that was excavated between 1971 and 1976.
- mapping and analyzing all the structures to be restored in the following phases in order to prepare a detailed restoration project plan.
The field staff consisted of Maria Elena Ronza, director; Tania Tujjo, square supervisor, from the University of Jordan; Mohammad Al-Khatib, architect, from the Department of Antiquities of Jordan (Mr. Al-Khatib’s task was preparation of the architectural drawings of the structures to be restored.). Sabah Abu Hudeib was the appointed representative of the Department of Antiquities of Jordan.
Cleaning
A system of paths and platforms, with care being given to not damage the antiquites, was developed during previous seasons to facilitate the circulation of visitors. A system of signs was set in order to explain the stratigraphy and history of the site. Stone gardens (collections of stone architectural remains) were organized in proximity of each square to keep an accurate documentation of architectural blocks and elements removed during the excavation, and to aid in future interventions of anastilosis and restoration of the monuments. Our goal is for the site to be an open air museum. This season the entire site was cleaned, removing overgrown thistles and accumulated garbage, and arranging new stone gardens in order to better expose the structures.
Sign 1 – Tool shed
The damaged shed was repaired, and the door lock was fixed (Figures 1-2).
Sign 2 – Pottery dump
The area was cleaned, and the circular stone wall around the dump was reshaped (Figures 3-4).
Sign 3 – Stratigraphy
A stratigraphic section was cut into the soil to show the procedure followed by archaeologists to distinguish historical periods. A large, viewing platform of stones and soil was set in front of the section (Figures 5-6).
Sign 4 – Hardy people cave
The area was cleaned, exposing the structures around the entrance to the cave. The modern metal door was repaired and locked to prevent vandalism. The Department of Antiquities was given the key, so that the guard at the site can show the cave to tourists. A platform of stones and soil accessed by a few steps was built around the sign in front of the entrance (Figures 7-10).
Sign 5 – Lime kiln
The rounded structure of the kiln was exposed (Figures 11-12).
Sign 6 – Roman stairs and market plaza
The area was cleaned and excavated (See “Exposure of the “Roman Plaza” " below.)
Sign 7 – West wall of Iron Age plastered reservoir
The area was cleaned, and some architectural pieces were moved from the bottom of the reservoir and placed in the stone garden beside the area of the “Roman Plaza” (Figures 13-14).
Sign 8 – Bronze Age cave and Iron Age dry moat
The structures of the dry moat and the arched entrance to the cave were exposed (Figures 15-17).
Signs 9 and 10 – Mamluk palace and governor’s steambath house
The area excavated in the previous seasons was cleaned, exposing the excavated structures where thistles and dirt had accumulated (Figures 18-19).
Signs 11 through 14 – Byzantine church, SE tower, Roman wall, Wadi Majar caves and Islamic House
The acropolis was cleaned, exposing the structures excavated during the previous season, especially the paved area south of the church. Several architectural pieces belonging to the church were organized in stone gardens on the north and south sides of the main nave of the church (Figures 20-22). Two stone gardens were prepared south of the Islamic house (Figure 23).
Signs 16 and 17 – North gate and Roman quarry
The northern gate and wall were cleaned to prepare for future interventions of restoration, and the stairs made of stone and soil leading to the platform of Sign 17 were cleared (Figures 24-25). A stairway was built to facilitate the descent from the Sign 17 platform (Figures 26-27) to the pathway leading to the medieval settlement (Sign 18).
Sign 18 – Medieval settlement
The pathway and the stairs leading to this area were cleared and repaired, and several scattered architectural pieces were moved and organized along the path (Figures 28-31). A circular pathway was made to permit a tour around the excavated area.
Sign 19
The area was cleaned, and a stone garden was prepared beside the excavation area (Figure 32).
Exposure of the “Roman Plaza”
At the beginning of the staircase leading to the acropolis was an unexcavated area of approximately 3 x 4 m. One square (R9.1) was opened (See attached plan.), with the excavation reaching a depth of about 1.65 m; however, no structures were identified. A piece of an entablature, which probably fell from the summit of the tall, was found. It is a Roman classical entablature (Figures 33-34). No complete objects or coins were found.
The stratigraphy confirmed the results of the previous seasons in 1968, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1976 with a series of huwwar layers interlaced with layers of soil (Boraas and Horn 1969: 118-126, 165-217; Boraas and Horn 1973: 35-71, 89-112; Boraas and Horn 1975: 133-167, 183-202; Boraas and Geraty 1976: 29-62, 79-99; Boraas and Geraty 1978: 31-49, 109-128).
Four loci have been identified as follows:
Earth locus 1 – greyish brown, sandy, loose soil with random pebbles and very few finds;
Earth locus 2 – white, moist, very compact loam huwwar layer with random cobbles and almost no finds;
Earth locus 3 -- greyish brown, sandy, loose soil with random pebbles (The piece of entablature was found inside this locus.);
Earth locus 4 – white, moist, very compact loam huwwar layer with random boulders and almost no finds.
The analysis of the finds, to be done this coming summer, will provide further information on the stratigraphy. The excavation of this square opened the view of the so called “Roman plaza” from the East (Figure 35). The area of the “Roman plaza” was cleaned, exposing the Roman structures (Figure 36) excavated in 1968, 1971, 1973, 1974 and 1976 seasons (Boraas and Horn 1969: 165-217; Boraas and Horn 1973: 35-71, 89-112; Boraas and Horn 1975: 133-167, 183-202; Boraas and Gerarty 1976:29-62, 79-99; Boraas and Gerarty 1978: 31-49, 109-128). Those structures are composed of a complex of rooms with a curbstone line running north-south on the east (squares D3 and D4 in 1968, 1971, 1973, 1974 and 1976 season); a curbstone line running north-south; a paved area (huwwar layers) on the west (squares B3 and B7 in 1968, 1971, 1973, 1974 and 1976 seasons); and a monumental stairway northwards.
Restoration of the “Roman Plaza”
The re-exposed complex of structures was in use for a long period (Strata 11-13 are from ca. 130 – 363 A.D.) and consists of several architectural phases (Mitchel L.A. 1992:75-124). According to Mitchel, the complex of rooms, with several transformations and restorations, was in use during the period represented by strata 12 and 13 (ca. 130 – 284 A.D.), then was put out of use in the period represented by stratum 11 (ca. 284 – 363 A.D.); the curbstone lines in squares D4 and B7 belong to stratum 13 (ca. 130-193 A.D.); and the monumental stairway belongs to stratum 11 (ca. 284-363 A.D.). The restoration plan is to expose the excavated structures to clarify the stratigraphic relationships, without giving preference to any specific phase over another. The reconstruction has to be limited to those structures in impending danger of collapse, or to those cases when anastilosis is applicable or a scientific and well-documented historical reconstruction of the building is possible. Therefore part of the complex of rooms (western part of squares D3 and D4) was exposed and cleaned up. The paved area (huwwar layers) was cut by the former squares B3 and B7; the area of square B3 was backfilled to reach the higher huwwar layer in situ; and in B7 the curbstone line and the related huwwar layer were exposed (Figure 37). This curbstone line continues southwards (square B4 in 1968, 1971, 1973, 1974 and 1976 season), and two curbstones, which were in place in 2001, had collapsed between 2001 and 2004. They were restored to their original position during this season with a thin layer of mortar (white cement, local soil, sand and water) to prevent new collapses (Figure 38 – 42).
Mapping the structures for restoration
Architect Mohammad Al-Khatib mapped the southeast tower, the church and the northern gate using a 1:20 scale.
Recommendations for Phase II
Phase II is planned from January 21 to March 23, 2006. The goal is restoration of the Southeast tower and the northern gate and wall. A preliminary season of excavation in the area of the tower was concluded in 2004. The excavation did not reach bedrock, and the inner area was not excavated.
Therefore, I would suggest beginning phase II with a season of excavation, opening two, or a maximum of three, squares with the following agenda:
- cleaning the entire area of the tower, removing the newly added stones above its south wall.
- Square R1 - continuing the excavation on the eastern side of the tower. The main aim is to reach bedrock or at least a clear layer of occupation and to clarify the relationship between this area and the rest of the structure. It is still unclear, in fact, if this eastern structure is a later addition or if it has been part of the tower since its first construction.
- Square R1.2 - excavating the inner room of the tower in order to shed light on the connection between the inner and the outer areas.
- Square R1.3 – eventually opening a foundation trench of the southern wall.
This short excavation season could last 20 days (January 21 – February 9). During the same period we could prepare the northern wall and gate for reconstruction.
Next, I would suggest proceeding to all the reconstruction interventions of phase II and III during the spring, so that it could be possible to hire a crane truck for the large architectural pieces only once. The mild weather during the Spring would keep the work running smoothly and quickly.
I anticipate that a couple of weeks for the end of phase II and III could be planned beginning June 22. During the excavation period (January 21 to February 9), I would check with a crane truck driver and the department representative about the feasibility of bringing a crane truck to the acropolis, without doing any damage to the antiquities.
Bibliography
Boraas, R.S.and Horn, S.H. – Heshbon 1968. The first campaign at Tell Hesban – AUSS, 7 (1969)
Boraas, R.S. and Horn, S.H. – Heshbon 1971. The second campaign at Tell Hesban – AUSS, 11 (1973)
Boraas, R.S.and Horn, S.H. – Heshbon 1973. The third campaign at Tell Hesban – AUSS, 13 (1975)
Boraas, R.S. and Geraty, L.T. – Heshbon 1974. The fourth campaign at Tell Hesban – AUSS, 14 (1976)
Boraas, R.S. and Geraty, L.T. – Heshbon 1976. The fifth campaign at Tell Hesban – AUSS, 16 (1978)
Mitchel L.A. (1992) – Hellenistic and Roman Strata – Hesban 7 – Andrews University Press - Michigan
Edited 1/30/06 tlc
