The Heshbon Expedition was the first excavation of a multi-millennial archaeological tall in Jordan. The expedition was notable for its scientific rigor and meticulous excavation of all periods. Led by Chief Archaeologist Roger Boraas, stratigraphic excavation techniques were used to uncover a total of nineteen stratigraphic horizons spanning over three millennia of human occupation and accumulated archaeological remains.[7]
The expedition led to three very consequential developments for the archaeology of Jordan.
The first was a ground-breaking study of the pottery of Hisban by James Sauer that included not only biblical and classical layers, but, significantly, also the more recent and not well-known Islamic layers.[8]
The second was the introduction of the methods and procedures of the New Archaeology by anthropologist Oystein S. LaBianca with strong support from Roger Boraas and Lawrence Geraty.[9]
The third was the development of standardized terminology and procedures for collection and recording of archaeological finds in the form of a dig manual authored by Larry Herr and other members of the team.[10]
Other accomplishments for which the expedition has been noted include its prompt publication of preliminary reports and the ambitious and broad scope of its final publication series; its providing a training ground and field school for a large number of Jordanian and international students and scholars;[11] its many spin-off projects, notably the launching of the Madaba Plains Project[12] at Tall al-Umayri and Tall Jalul and eventually again at Tall Hisban, but including many others as well such as the Hesban North Church Project,[13] Tall Jawa,[14] Tall Balua, Abila of the Decapolis, Umm el Jimal.[15]