Institute of Archaeology & Siegfried H. Horn Museum
At Andrews University
Contact Information & Location
Greek Manuscript Research Center
SDA Theological Seminary
Horn Museum
Cuneiform Tablet Collection
Madaba Plains Project
Sicily Excavation
Khirbet Safra
Hesban Final Publication Series
The Hesban Final Publication Series (currently projected to include 14 volumes) will report the anthropological and archaeological findings gleaned from the site of Tell Hesban, Jordan, excavated during five seasons: 1968-1976. Principally sponsored by Andrews University, the Hesban Expedition has received international recognition as the first regional project in Jordan — a leader in introducing new methodologies and field techniques which is producing the first final publication of a project of its magnitude. Each final publication volume describes a specific aspect of the excavation and has been authored by one or more specialists in the subject. The attractive, casebound volumes are highly illustrated and completely indexed.
Titles Currently Available in the Hesban Final Publications Series:
Sedentarization and Nomadization: Food System Cycles at Hesban and Vicinity in Transjordan.
Hesban 1. Ø. S. LaBianca. 1990.
(xx + 353 pp). ISBN 0-943872-00-6
Download not available Out of print
Environmental Foundations: Studies of Climatical, Geological, Hydrological, and Phytological Conditions in Hesban and Vicinity.
Hesban 2. Ø. S. LaBianca & L. Lacelle. 1986
(xii + 174 pp). ISBN 0-943872-15-4
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Historical Foundations: Studies of Literary References to Hesban and Vicinity.
Hesban 3. eds. L. T. Geraty & L. G. Running. 1989.
(x + 97 pp). ISBN 0-943872-17-0
Archaeological Survey of the Hesban Region: Catalogue of Sites and Characterization of Periods.
Hesban 5. R. D. Ibach, Jr. 1987.
(xiv + 299 pp). ISBN 0-943872-16-2
Tell Hesban and Vicinity in the Iron Age.
Hesban 6. Paul J. Ray, Jr. 2001.
(xv + 270 pp). ISBN 0-934872-19-7
Hellenistic and Roman Strata: A Study of the Stratigraphy of Tell Hesban from the 2d Century B.C. to the 4th Century A.D.
Hesban 7. L. A. Mitchel. 1992.
(xvi + 189 pp). ISBN 0-943872-20-0
The Necropolis of Hesban: A Typology of Tombs.
Hesban 10. S. Douglas Waterhouse with contributions by Anne L. Grauer, George J. Armelagos, and Howard P. Krug. 1998.
(v + 205 pp) ISBN 0-943872-23-5
Ceramic Finds: Typological and Technological Studies of the Pottery Remains from Tell Hesban and Vicinity.
Hesban 11. eds. James A. Sauer and Larry G. Herr. 2012.
(xxx + 786 pp). ISBN 978-0-943872-24-7
Small Finds: Studies of Bone, Iron, Glass, Figurines, and Stone Objects from Tell Hesban and Vicinity.
Hesban 12. ed. Paul J. Ray, Jr. 2009.
(xxi + 414 pp). ISBN 978-0-943872-28-5
Faunal Remains: Taphonomical and Zooarchaeological Studies of the Animal Remains from Tell Hesban and Vicinity.
Hesban 13. eds. Ø. S. LaBianca and A. von den Driesch. 1995.
(xxv + 236 pp). ISBN 0-943872-29-4.
Sedentarization and Nomadization: Food System Cycles at Hesban and Vicinity in Transjordan
by Øystein S. LaBianca. (xx + 353 pp). ISBN 0-943872-00-6; cloth; 1990
LaBianca's Brandeis University dissertation seeks to interpret occupation at Tell Hesban and vicinity in light of the concerns of the "new archaeology," specifically, the "food system" concept which organizes data around the central theme of economic survival strategies. These strategies are conceptualized in a series of 13 cycles of sedentarization and nomadization, manifested in periods of intensification and abatement at the site. The underlying theory of the food system interpretation is fully explained; each occupation cycle is detailed with anthropological and archaeological findings. The volume includes an Arabic summary by Adnan Hadidi, 47 figures, 203 plates, and 16 tables. Out of print.
Environmental Foundations: Studies of Climatical, Geological, Hydrological, and Phytological Conditions in Hesban and Vicinity
by Ø. S. LaBianca & L. Lacelle. (xii + 174 pp). ISBN 0-943872-15-4; cloth; 1986
Fundamental to the archaeological contextualization of the Tell Hesban finds is a treatment of the physical environment surrounding the site. This volume coordinates the data and interpretation of six specialists and is organized around the concept that insights gained through a study of the modern environment can be used to generate models of environmental conditions in the ancient past. Subjects include climate (by Kevin Ferguson and Tim Hudson), geology and soils (Larry Lacelle), surface and groundwater (Larry Lacelle), flora (Patricia Crawford), ecology (Larry Lacelle), paleoethnobotany and paleoenvironment (Dennis R. Gilliland). Introduction and conclusion are provided by Øystein LaBianca and Larry Lacelle. Illustrations include 26 figures, 42 plates, and 9 tables.
Historical Foundations: Studies of Literary References to Hesban and Vicinity
eds. L. T. Geraty & L. G. Running. (x + 97 pp). ISBN 0-943872-17-0; cloth; 1989
Historical contextualization is a vitally important part of attaining a view of Tell Hesban as its contemporaries described it. A spectrum of historical periods are analyzed from their contemporary literary sources: pre-classical and classical sources (Werner K. Vyhmeister), Arab sources (Malcolm B. Russell), a review of critical studies of Old Testament references to the site (Arthur J. Ferch), and traveler's accounts since 1806 (Werner K. Vyhmeister). This combination of historical analyses compiled both before and after field excavations provides an uncommon collection of pertinent literary sources. Illustrations include 4 figures and 1 plate.
Hesban 4: Ethnoarchaeological Foundations
Currently assigned to Øystein S. LaBianca, this volume is planned to report on the ethnographical and ethnoarchaeological fieldwork conducted in the modern village of Hesban by members of the Tell Hesban Expedition
Archaeological Survey of the Hesban Region: Catalogue of Sites and Characterization of Periods
by R. D. Ibach, Jr. ISBN 0-943872-32-4; (xiv + 299 pp). ISBN 0-943872-16-2; cloth; 1987
From its beginning, the Tell Hesban Expedition had a regional emphasis which sought to place on-tell occupation within the context of its surroundings. Pursuant to this goal, a regional survey team gathered data on 148 sites within a 10 km radius of the tell over the course of 3 field seasons. The survey was to seek ancient sites within the project area, accurately establish the location of any sites found, examine and document each site, and gather artifacts from the ground surface for the purpose of establishing an occupational history of the Hesban vicinity. The resulting catalogue of sites and period characterization provides a ready resource for understanding the Hesban region, and in some cases, the preserves the only archaeological analysis of a host of smaller sites which have been subsequently absorbed by the urbanization of modern Jordan. Illustrations include 18 figures, 198 plates, and 34 tables.
Tell Hesban and Vicinity in the Iron Age
by Paul J. Ray, Jr. (xv + 270 pp). ISBN 0-934872-19-7; cloth; 2001
This volume presents a layer-by-layer account of the discoveries from the six Iron Age strata (12th through 5th centuries B.C.) at Tell Hesban, Jordan, with regional survey data from its immediate vicinity. Discoveries are interpreted in light of cultural, ethnological, and natural science data as well as historical events. Implications of these finds for an understanding of the history of the biblical tribe of Reuben, and the tribal kingdoms of Ammon and Moab are also examined. It includes a summary of the site and the surrounding region during the Late Bronze Age and Hellenistic periods as well as a chapter on the history of the excavation methodology of the Heshbon Expedition. There are numerous plans, photographs and pottery plates. The ceramic discussion compares the pottery of Tell Hesban with similar Iron Age forms found elsewhere in the Levant. The volume includes appendices of all loci, objects and faunal remains found in the Iron Age strata. An index is provided. Illustrations include 68 figures, 37 plates, and 7 tables.
by L. A. Mitchel. (xvi + 189 pp). ISBN 0-943872-20-0; cloth; 1992
Strata 15-11 at Tell Hesban comprised the Hellenistic and Roman levels (ca. 63 BC to AD 363). This revised edition of Mitchel's Andrews University dissertation describes each level in terms of its stratigraphic characteristics and its phases of occupation (construction, use, and destruction), as well as its historical, political, social, cultural, and economic contexts. The result is a primer for the archaeological and contextual history of the site during the these periods. Abbreviated locus and objects lists provide data for further stratigraphic analysis. Illustrations include 38 figures, 92 plates, and 7 tables.
Hesban 8: Byzantine and Early Islamic Strata
Currently in preparation, J. Bjørnar Storfjell offers a complete revision of his Andrews University dissertation which presents a detailed analysis of the six strata dated to the 4th-10th centuries AD.
Hesban 9: Ayyubid-Mamluk Strata
This report will discuss and analyze the strata dated to the 12th-15th centuries AD.
The Necropolis of Hesban: A Typology of Tombs
by S. Douglas Waterhouse with contributions by Anne L. Grauer, George J. Armelagos, and Howard P. Krug. (v + 205 pp). ISBN 0-943872-23-5; cloth; 1998
The tenth volume of the Hesban Final Publication Series sorts the Roman and Byzantine tombs found at Tell Hesban into six architectural types. Each tomb type is described in detail by its architecture (accompanied with top plans) and a listing of pottery readings, objects, and human remains (chapters 1-7). The biology of the skeletal remains of the Roman and Byzantine populations is examined in Chapter 8. In chapter 9, 350 Roman and Byzantine tombs found throughout Transjordan are categorized into eight typologies (the six Hesban types plus two). Two appendices list tomb probes and objects. A complete index is also included. Illustrations include 29 figures, 85 plates and 80 tables.
Ceramic Finds: Typological and Technological Studies of the Pottery Remains from Tell Hesban and Vicinity
eds. James A. Sauer and Larry G. Herr. (xxx + 786 pp). ISBN 978-0-943872-24-7; cloth; 2012
This volume is devoted in part to the typological analysis of the Tall Hisban pottery. It comprises some of the ca. 6000 sherds from the 1971, 1973, 1974, and 1976 excavation seasons at the site. It also provides a technological analysis of more than 200 sherds along with six Iron Age sherds from Tall al-'Umayri, as well as a detailed Istrumental Neutron Activation Analysis of 99 Iron Age sherds from Hisban and 'Umayri. The volume includes 270 figures, 1 plate and 2 tables.
Small Finds: Studies of Bone, Iron, Glass, Figurines, and Stone Objects from Tell Hesban and Vicinity
ed. Paul J. Ray, Jr. (xxi + 414 pp). ISBN 978-0-943872-28-5; cloth; 2009
This volume presents reports from a spectrum of specialists and deals with Arabic, Greek, Latin and Ammonite inscriptions, ceramic figurines, scarabs, glass fragments, domestic stone objects, iron samples, textile tools, cosmetic objects, jewelry, and coins which were found during the Tell Hesban excavations. Illustrations include 147 figures, 109 plates and 45 tables.
Faunal Remains: Taphonomical and Zooarchaeological Studies of the Animal Remains from Tell Hesban and Vicinity
eds. Ø. S. LaBianca and A. von den Driesch. (xxv + 236 pp). ISBN 0-943872-29-4; cloth; 1995
The archaeological remnants of a wide variety of animals were recovered during the Tell Hesban excavations. Nearly 100,000 bones were painstakingly sorted, identified, documented, interpreted, and reported by a number of specialists. Angela von den Driesch and Joachim Boessneck studied the deer remains and provided a synthesis of all the bone finds from Tell Hesban. Boessneck also analyzed the weasel, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Johannes Lepiksaar examined the fish remains. An introduction to bone analysis, an ethnoarchaeological study of the modern village of Hesban, insights regarding both the nature of the zooarchaeological record and the effects of post-depositional preservation, and general conclusions are provided by Øystein S. LaBianca. These faunal data are meticulously detailed with 114 figures, 186 plates, and 135 tables.
Hesban 14: Hesban and Biblical History
Currently assigned to Lawrence T. Geraty and Øystein S. LaBianca, this final volume of the Hesban series will seek to integrate all the data and insights collected during the Hesban Expedition into one synthetic report.
Institute of Archaeology
& Horn Museum
9047 Old US 31
Berrien Springs, MI 49104-0990