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1293 CE Quake

11 Jan. 1293 - 8 Feb. 1293 CE

by Jefferson Williams









Probable 1202, 1212, and 1293 CE Seismites in En Gedi (Dead Sea)
Probable 1202, 1212, and 1293 CE Seismites in En Gedi (Dead Sea) - Agnon et al (2006)

Introduction & Summary

Multiple sources report an earthquake during the month of Safar A.H. 692 (11 Jan. 1293 - 8 Feb. 1293 CE) that, depending on the author, struck Karak, Tafila, Fakul, Ramla, Lod/Lydda, Gaza, Qaqun, and/or coastal areas. All of the authors mention damage to Karak and Ramla, most of the authors mention damage to three towers of the Citadel in Karak, and indications from the various reports are that Karak suffered the most. al-Jazari adds that a number of buildings in Karak were also destroyed. This suggests an earthquake in the Northern Araba/Dead Sea for which there appears to be corroborating paleoseismic evidence. Several authors describe rebuilding efforts undertaken in Karak soon after the earthquake struck. See Kagan (2011) in Notes for some speculation on the causitive fault breaks.

Textual Evidence

Text (with hotlink) Original Language Biographical Info Religion Date of Composition Location Composed Notes
Damage and Chronology Reports from Textual Sources n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
al-Nuwairi Arabic
Biography

Muslim ? between 1312 and 1333 CE Cairo States that between 11 Jan. 1293 and 8 Feb. 1293 CE there was a violent earthquake at the towns of Gaza, Ramla, Ludd [Lydda], and Karak with the Karak particularly affected and three towers of the citadel [of Karak] were destroyed.
Ibn Kathir Arabic
Biography

Muslim Before 1373 CE Damascus States that between 11 Jan. 1293 and 8 Feb. 1293 CE there was an earthquake at Karak and many buildings were destroyed at Tafila.
Ibn al-Furat Arabic
Biography

Muslim before 1405 CE Egypt States that between 11 Jan. 1293 and 8 Feb. 1293 CE a vigorous earthquake occurred in the area of Ghaza, Ramleh, Lydda and Kerak with the worst damage at Kerak where three towers of the fortress were ruined. Also states that it was particularly destructive along the coast, ruined many places, and damaged the minarets of the Mosques in Ramla and Ghaza.
Ibn al-Jazari Arabic
Biography

Muslim before 1429 CE ? States that between 11 Jan. 1293 and 8 Feb. 1293 CE there was a violent earthquake in the towns of Gaza, Ramla, Ludd [Lydda], Qaqun and Karak with the worst damage at Kerak where three towers of the citadel were destroyed along with many houses.
al-Maqrizi Arabic
Biography

Sunni Muslim Shafi‘i (Rabbat, 2003:9) before 1442 CE Cairo or Damascus States that between 11 Jan. 1293 and 8 Feb. 1293 CE the towns of Ghaza, Ramla, Ludd and especially Al-Karak, were struck by a violent earthquake and that three towers in Karak were destroyed. Also states that a tremendous earthquake struck the coastal towns, the earthquake caused destruction in many places, and the minaret of the congregational mosque at Ramla was so badly cracked that it collapsed.
as-Suyuti Arabic
Biography

Sufi Muslim 15th c. CE Cairo States that between 11 Jan. 1293 and 8 Feb. 1293 CE Ramla, Fakul, and Karak were destroyed in an earthquake.
Text (with hotlink) Original Language Biographical Info Religion Date of Composition Location Composed Notes
Damage and Chronology Reports from Textual Sources

Seismic Effects

Seismic Effects
Effect Sources Notes
Three Towers in Karak ruined al-Furat, al-Jazari, al-Nuwairi, Ibn Kathir, al-Maqrizi al-Jazari adds that a number of buildings in Karak were destroyed
as-Suyuti says the village of Karak was destroyed but does not mention the towers (in the abbreviated translation I currently have access to)
Minaret of Mosque in Ramla damaged al-Furat, al-Maqrizi
Minaret of Mosque in Ghaza damaged al-Furat
Many buildings destroyed at Tafila Ibn Kathir

Locations

Locations
Effect Sources Notes
Ghaza al-Furat, al-Jazari, al-Nuwairi, al-Maqrizi
Ramla al-Furat, al-Jazari, al-Nuwairi, al-Maqrizi, as-Suyuti
Lydda al-Furat, al-Jazari, al-Nuwairi, al-Maqrizi
Karak al-Furat, al-Jazari, al-Nuwairi, Ibn Kathir, al-Maqrizi, as-Suyuti
Qaqun al_Jazari
Tafila Ibn Kathir
Fakul as-Suyuti
Coastal Areas al-Furat, al-Maqrizi

Date

Date
Date Sources Notes
11 Jan. 1293 - 8 Feb. 1293 CE al-Furat, al-Jazari, al-Nuwairi, Ibn Kathir, al-Maqrizi, as-Suyuti

The Ultimate Ambition in the Arts of Erudition by al-Nuwairi

نهاية الأرب في فنون الأدب by شهاب ال

Aliases

Aliases Arabic
Al-Nuwayrī شهاب ال
Shihāb al-Dīn Ahmad bin 'Abd al-Wahhāb al-Nuwayri شهاب الدين أحمد بن عبد الوهاب النويري
Background and Biography
Background and Biography

Excerpts
English from Guidoboni and Comastri (2005)

In this year, during the month of Safar [692 H. = 11 January 1293 - 8 February 1293], there was a violent earthquake at the towns of Gaza, Ramla, Ludd [Lydda], and Karak. Karak was particularly affected, for three towers of its citadel were destroyed, and the Emir 'Ala' al-Dine of Damascus was sent with some artisans to rebuild what had been destroyed there.

Chronology
Year Reference Corrections Notes
11 Jan. 1293 - 8 Feb. 1293 CE Safar A.H. 692 (assumed year) none Calculated using CHRONOS
Seismic Effects Locations Online Versions and Further Reading
References

The Beginning and the End by Ibn Kathir

Al-Bidaya wa'l-Nihaya by ابن كثير

Aliases

Aliases Arabic
Ibn Kathīr ابن كثير
Abu al-Fiḍā ‘Imād Ad-Din Ismā‘īl ibn ‘Umar ibn Kathīr al-Qurashī Al-Damishqī إسماعيل بن عمر بن كثير القرشي الدمشقي أبو الفداء عماد
Abū l-Fidāʾ Ismāʿīl ibn ʿUmar ibn Kaṯīr أبو الفداء إسماعيل بن عمر بن كثير
Imād ad-Dīn عماد الدين
Background and Biography
Background and Biography

Excerpts
English from Guidoboni and Comastri (2005)

In the month of Safar [692 H. = 11 January 1293 - 8 February 1293], it was very cold in Syria, and in that year there was an earthquake at Karak and many buildings were destroyed at Tafila.

Chronology
Year Reference Corrections Notes
11 Jan. 1293 - 8 Feb. 1293 CE Safar A.H. 692 (assumed year) none Calculated using CHRONOS
Seismic Effects Locations Sources
Sources and Dependants

Online Versions and Further Reading
References

History of the Dynasties and Kingdoms by Ibn al-Furat

Taʾrīkh al-duwal wa ’l-mulūk by Ibn al-Furat

Aliases

Aliases Arabic
Ibn al-Furat
Nāṣir al-Dīn Muḥammad b. ʿAbd al-Raḥīm b. ʿAlī al-Miṣrī al-Ḥanafī نصرالدين محمد بن عبدالرحيم بن علي المصري الحنفي
Background and Biography
Background and Biography

Excerpts
English from Arieh (1977)

  • from Arieh (1977)
In the month of Safar (12th January - 9th February) a vigorous earthquake occurred in the area of Ghaza, Ramleh, Lydda and Kerak. It was most heavily felt in Kerak where three towers of the fortress were ruined ... It was particularly destructive along the coast. It ruined many places. The minaret of the Friday mosque of Ramleh cracked and collapsed ... as well as the minaret of Ghaza.

Chronology
Year Reference Corrections Notes
11 Jan. 1293 - 8 Feb. 1293 CE Safar A.H. 692 (assumed year) none Calculated using CHRONOS
Seismic Effects Locations Online Versions and Further Reading
References

Notes
Characterization of the text, extant sections, and editions

Ms. 6739 by Ibn al-Jazari

Ms. 6739 by Ibn al-Jazari

Aliases

Aliases Arabic
Ibn al-Jazari
Ibn al-Djazari
Abu al-Khayr Shams al-Din Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Yusuf al-Jazari أبو الخير شمس الدين محمد بن محمد بن محمد بن علي بن يوسف الجزري
Shams al-Din Abu al-Khayr Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn 'Ali ibn Yusuf al-Djazari
Background and Biography
Background and Biography

Excerpts
English from Guidoboni and Comastri (2005)

In that year [692 H. = 1292-1293], there was a violent earthquake in the towns of Gaza, Ramla, Ludd [Lydda], Qaqun and Karak. The worst damage was at Karak, to the extent that three of the citadel's towers were destroyed, as were a number of buildings. The earthquake occurred during the month of Safar [692 H. = 11 January 1293 - 8 February 1293], and the news reached Damascus at the same time as the sultan's order, in the month of Rabi`I [692 H. = 9 February 1293 - 10 March 1293], to send Ala' al-Din al-Shuja`i, one of the emirs of Damascus, together with a group of artisans, engineers and stonecutters, with a large quantity of tools to rebuild those parts of the citadel at Karak which had been destroyed.

Chronology
Year Reference Corrections Notes
11 Jan. 1293 - 8 Feb. 1293 CE Safar A.H. 692 none Calculated using CHRONOS
Seismic Effects Locations Online Versions and Further Reading
References

al-Maqrizi

by المقريزي

Aliases

Aliases Arabic
Al-Maqrīzī المقريزي
Maḳrīzī
Taqī al-Dīn Abū al-'Abbās Aḥmad ibn 'Alī ibn 'Abd al-Qādir ibn Muḥammad al-Maqrīzī تقي الدين أحمد بن علي بن عبد القادر بن محمد المقريزي
Background and Biography
Background and Biography

Excerpts
English from Guidoboni and Comastri (2005)

In the month of Safar [692 H. = 11 January - 8 February 1293], the towns of Ghaza, Ramla, Ludd and especially Al-Karak, were struck by a violent earthquake. Of the towers at Al-Karak, three were destroyed. A message from al-Ghars ibn Shawr, governor of Ramla, told that there had been incessant rain, causing destruction in fields and houses. The flood knocked down bridges and mills on the river 'Awja'. The bodies of eleven drowned lions were found in the flood waters. Immediately after the flood, a tremendous earthquake struck the coastal towns. The earthquake caused destruction in many places; and the minaret of the congregational mosque at Ramla was so badly cracked that it collapsed. The governor was ordered to assess the damage, and the Emir 'Ala' al-Din Aydgudi al-Shuja`i was sent with labourers and skilled workers to rebuild what had collapsed at Al-Karak.

Chronology
Year Reference Corrections Notes
11 Jan. 1293 - 8 Feb. 1293 CE Safar A.H. 692 (assumed year) none Calculated using CHRONOS
Seismic Effects Locations Sources
Sources and Notes

Online Versions and Further Reading
References

Clearing up the Description of Earthquakes by Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti

كتاب كشف الصلصلة عن وصف الزلزلة by عبد الرحمن بن كمال الدين أبي بكر بن محمد سابق الدين خضر الخضيري الأسيوطي

Aliases

Aliases Arabic
Al-Suyuti
As-Suyuti
Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti
Abu 'l-Fadl 'Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Bakr ibn Muhammad Djalal al_Din al-Khudayri
Background and Biography
Background and Biography

Excerpts
English from Sprenger (1843)

A.H. 692. In the month of Safr at Ramla, Fakul and El-Kerk three villages were destroyed.

English from Sprenger (1843) - embedded



An Original Manuscript - Arabic

  • The Noor book courtesy of Najib Abou Karaki (personal correspondence, 2022)



























Chronology
Year Reference Corrections Notes
11 Jan. 1293 - 8 Feb. 1293 CE Safar A.H. 692 none Calculated using CHRONOS
Seismic Effects Locations Sources
Sources

Notes and Further Reading
References

Archaeoseismic Evidence

Location (with hotlink) Status Intensity Notes
Amman Citadel possible needs investigation
Karak Rebuilding efforts reported by some authors soon after the earthquake struck may have removed destruction evidence leaving rebuilding evidence instead.
Jericho - Introduction n/a n/a n/a
Jericho - Hisham's Palace probable ≥ 8
9-10
Later Earthquake - Alfonsi et al (2013) dated the causitive earthquake for the major seismic destruction at Hisham's Palace to the earthquake of 1033 CE unlike previous researchers who dated it to one of the Sabbatical Year earthquakes. Their discussion is reproduced below:
The archaeological data testify to an uninterrupted occupancy from eighth century until 1000 A.D. of the Hisham palace (Whitcomb, 1988). Therefore, if earthquakes occurred in this time period, the effects should not have implied a total destruction with consequent occupancy contraction or abandonment. Toppled walls and columns in the central court cover debris containing 750-850 A.D. old ceramic shards (Whitcomb, 1988). Recently unearthed collapses north of the court confirm a widespread destruction after the eighth century (Jericho Mafjar Project - The Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago). These elements support the action of a destructive shaking event at the site later than the 749 A.D. earthquake. The two well-constrained, major historical earthquakes recognized in the southern Jordan Valley are the 749 and 1033 A.D. (Table 1; Marco et al (2003); Guidoboni and Comastri, 2005). We assign an IX—X intensity degree to the here-recorded Hisham damage, whereas a VII degree has been attributed to the 749 A.D. earthquake at the site (Marco et al, 2003). Furthermore, Whitcomb (1988) defines an increment of occupation of the palace between 900 and 1000 A.D. followed by a successive occupation in the 1200-1400 A.D. time span. On the basis of the above, and because no pottery remains are instead associated with the 1000-1200 A.D. period at Hisham palace (Whitcomb, 1988), we suggest a temporary, significant contraction or abandonment of the site as consequence of a severe destruction in the eleventh century.
Petra - Introduction n/a n/a n/a
Petra - Jabal Harun possible ≥ 8 Phase 12 destruction event - not well dated - Mikkola et al (2008) noted that in this destruction event all remaining roof structures collapsed and there was a layer of stone tumble. Hard-packed, clayey soil directly under the lowermost deposits of stone tumble [...] contained relatively few finds apparently making it difficult to date. Also found in the stone tumble were the remains of two fallen arches, a row of voussoirs, some drums fallen from a column, and many other architectural elements found throughout the complex.
Petra - Petra Church possible ≥ 8 Fiema et al (2001) characterized structural destruction of the church in Phase X as likely caused by an earthquake with a date that is not easy to determine. A very general terminus post quem of the early 7th century CE was provided. Destruction due to a second earthquake was identified in Phase XIIA which was dated from late Umayyad to early Ottoman. Taken together this suggests that the first earthquake struck in the 7th or 8th century CE and the second struck between the 8th and 16th or 17th century CE.
Petra - Blue Chapel and the Ridge Church possible Later undated earthquake(s)- Perry in Bikai et al (2020:70) noted that from the 8th c. A.D. on, the abandoned structures suffered extensive damage from repeated earthquakes.
Shivta possible ≥ 8 Post Abandonment Earthquake(s) - 8th - 15th centuries CE - On the western perimeter of Shivta in Building 121, Erickson-Gini (2013) found evidence of earthquake induced collapse of the ceilings and parts of the walls which she dated to possibly in the Middle Islamic period after the site was abandoned at the end of the Early Islamic period. Collapsed arches were also found. The arches appear to be in a crescent pattern. Erickson-Gini (2013) discussed dating of the structure is as follows:
The excavation revealed that the structure was built and occupied in the Late Byzantine period (fifth–seventh centuries CE) and continued to be occupied as late as the Early Islamic period (eighth century CE). The structure appears to have collapsed sometime after its abandonment, possibly in the Middle Islamic period.
Dateable artifacts in Room 2 came from the Late Byzantine period and the Early Islamic period (eighth century CE). The terminus ante quem for this earthquake is not well established. Korjenkov and Mazor (1999a) report that a site effect is not likely at this location.
Baydha possible ≥ 8 Western Mosque Earthquake - 11th-13th centuries CE - Sinibaldi (2018:75) reports that Mosque 2 (aka the Western Mosque) was probably destroyed by an earthquake. Sinibaldi (2023:360) reports that 14C analysis of archaeobotanical materials recovered from surfaces of use of mosques 1 and 2 produced preliminary results which dated the samples from the two mosques between the eleventh and the thirteenth centuries CE.
el-Lejjun possible ≥ 8 4th Earthquake - ~600 CE - 1918 CE - Groot et al (2006:183) report discovery of a nearly complete Umayyad Lamp in Square 4 of Area B (Barracks - B.6.038) in the Post Stratum Gap - above and later than the 3rd earthquake layer. Above the Ummayyad lamp was a 0.7 m thick layer of tumble containing some roof beams and many wall blocks (Groot et al, 2006:183). They note that the basalt roof beams found embedded in the lowest tumble level (B.6.032) suggests initial massive destruction rather than gradual decay over time. The wall blocks, found in the upper layer of tumble, contained one late Islamic (1174-1918 CE) and one Ayyubid/Mamluk (1174-1516 CE) sherd indicating a significant amount of time may have passed between the possibly seismically induced roof collapse and the wall collapse which was not characterized as necessarily having a seismic origin. This opens up the possibility that one of the mid 8th century CE earthquakes or a later earthquake may have also caused damage at el-Lejjun. deVries et al (2006:196) suggests that Umayyad abandonment of the northwest tower was probably triggered by further major collapse. In the North Gate, deVries et al (2006:207) found evidence of full scale destruction in layers above 3rd earthquake debris and post-earthquake occupation layers which contained Late Byzantine/Umayyad and Umayyad sherds. Subsoil/tumble was found in C.9.008 (north room), C.9.009 (south room) and C.9.005 (stairwell) bear ample witness to the destruction of the rooms, perhaps in the Umayyad period. Although Late Byzantine sherds were found in Post Stratum layers in the North Gate, if one assumes that the 3rd earthquake was the Inscription at Aeropolis Quake which struck before 597 CE - probably within a decade of 597 CE, one can establish an approximate and fairly conservative terminus post quem for this earthquake of ~600 CE. While the terminus ante quem is the end of the post stratum III gap (1918 CE), it is probable that that the earthquake struck much earlier.
Castellum of Qasr Bshir possible ≥ 8 Later Earthquake(s) - Above what was presumed to be a Late Umayyad collapse layer Clark (1987:490) found another collapse layer in H.2
A period of abandonment followed [the Late Umayyad collapse], punctuated by a squatter occupation of the room, during which a fire was lit in the corner. There followed a major collapse of masonry, after which no further occupation of the room took place.
Location (with hotlink) Status Intensity Notes
Amman - The Citadel



Karak



Jericho and environs - Introduction



Jericho and environs - Hisham's Palace at the Khirbet el-Mefjer site



Petra - Introduction



Petra - Jabal Harun



Petra - The Petra Church



Petra - The Ridge Church and the Blue Chapel



Shivta



Baydha



el-Lejjun



Castellum of Qasr Bshir



Landslide Evidence

Tsunamogenic Evidence

Paleoseismic Evidence

Location (with hotlink) Status Intensity Notes
Jordan Valley - Tell Saidiyeh and Ghor Kabed Trenches possible ≥ 7 Ferry et al (2011) detected 12 surface rupturing seismic events in 4 trenches (T1-T4) in Tell Saidiyeh and Ghor Kabed; 10 of which were prehistoric. The tightest chronology came from the Ghor Kabed trenches (T1 and T2) where Events Y and Z were constrained to between 560 and 1800 CE.
Dead Sea - Seismite Types n/a n/a n/a
Dead Sea - En Feshka possible to probable 8.2 - 9.0 (0 cm.)
8.1 - 8.9 (12 cm.)
8.0 - 8.8 (28 cm.)
Kagan et. al. (2011) identified several seismites from around this time.
Depth (cm.) Thickness (cm.) Seismite Type Modeled Age (± 1σ) Modeled Age (± 2σ) Quake Assignment (Kagan) Quake Assignment (Williams)
0 10 4 1322 CE ± 22 1350 CE ± 71 Kagan et. al. (2011) assigned a date of 1312 CE based on an erroneous catalog entry from Ben-Menahem which is a duplicate of the 1212 CE Quake not assigned
12 7 4 1277 CE ± 17 1303 CE ± 64 1293 CE Quake 1293 CE Quake
28 2 4 1220 CE ± 21 1222 CE ± 46 1202 CE Quake and 1212 CE Quake not assigned
Dead Sea - En Gedi possible 7.9 - 8.8
  • Seismites assigned to earthquakes in 1202, 1212, and 1293 CE from Agnon et al (2006)
Migowski et. al. (2004) assigned a 1293 CE date to a 1 cm. thick Type 4 seismite at a depth of 94.81 cm. (0.9481 m).
Dead Sea - Nahal Ze 'elim possible 8.3 - 9.1 At site ZA-1, Ken-Tor et al (2001a) assigned a a date of 1293 CE to a ~15 cm. thick Type 4 seismite which they labeled as Event F and was dated between 1270 and 1400 CE (± 2σ). In Table 4 of Kagan et. al. (2011), a 16 cm. thick seismite at ZA-1 was associated with the 1293 CE earthquake. At site ZA-2, Kagan et. al. (2011) did not find any seismites whose time window encompassed 1293 CE.
Araba - Introduction n/a n/a n/a
Araba - Taybeh Trench possible LeFevre et al. (2018) assigned a 1293 CE date to a seismite labeled as E3supp (aka E3bis) which was age modeled to between 819 and 1395 CE.
Araba - Qatar Trench possible ≥ 7 Klinger et. al. (2015) identified one seismic event which might fit.
Event Mean Date Age Range Quake Assignment (Klinger) Quake Assignment (Williams)
E2 1212 CE ± 57 1155-1269 CE 1212 CE Quake not assigned
Araba - Taba Sabhka Trench possible ≥ 7 Allison (2013) assigned a 1068 CE date to a seismic event which they dated to between 1045 and 1661 CE and Allison (2013) assigned a 1212 CE date to a seismic event which they dated to between the mid 11th century CE and the 16-17th centuries CE.
Araba - Elat Sabhka Trenches possible Kanari et al (2020) suggested that a dewatering structure (aka a liquefaction fluid escape structure) found in Trench T1 and dated to before 1269-1389 CE was caused by the 1068 CE Quake(s) or the 1212 CE Quake. Kanari et al (2020) also dated Event E2 in Trench T3 to after 1294 CE and assigned it to earthquakes in 1458 or 1588 CE. Kanari et al (2020) dated sand blows SB1 and SB2 in Trench T3 to between 1287 and 1635 CE and suggested they may have formed during an earthquake in 1458 CE.
Araba - Trenches in Aqaba possible ≥ 7 Niemi (2011:153) noted that the most recent scarp-forming event fault [in Trench AQ-1] occurred after A.D. 1045-1278 based on a corrected, calibrated radiocarbon age from charcoal collected from a buried campfire at the base of the scarp in Trench T-1. This likely represents fault motion in one of the historical earthquakes affecting southern Jordan (e.g. 1068, 1212, 1458, or 1588).
Location (with hotlink) Status Intensity Notes
Tell Saidiyeh and Ghor Kabed Trenches

Ferry et al (2011) detected 12 surface rupturing seismic events in 4 trenches (T1-T4) in Tell Saidiyeh and Ghor Kabed; 10 of which were prehistoric. The tightest chronology came from the Ghor Kabed trenches (T1 and T2) where Events Y and Z were constrained to between 560 and 1800 CE.

Note: Although Ferry et al (2011) combined archaeoseismic interpretations, their paleoseismic evidence, and entries from earthquake catalogs to produce earthquake dates and some overly optimistic probabilities, only the paleoseismic data is presented here. Ferry et al (2011)'s archaeoseismic data was researched and is treated separately.



Dead Sea - Seismite Types



Dead Sea - En Feshka

Kagan et. al. (2011) identified several seismites from around this time.

Depth (cm.) Thickness (cm.) Seismite Type Modeled Age (± 1σ) Modeled Age (± 2σ) Quake Assignment (Kagan) Quake Assignment (Williams)
0 10 4 1322 CE ± 22 1350 CE ± 71 Kagan et. al. (2011) assigned a date of 1312 CE based on an erroneous catalog entry from Ben-Menahem which is a duplicate of the 1212 CE Quake not assigned
12 7 4 1277 CE ± 17 1303 CE ± 64 1293 CE Quake 1293 CE Quake
28 2 4 1220 CE ± 21 1222 CE ± 46 1202 CE Quake and 1212 CE Quake not assigned


Dead Sea - En Gedi

Migowski et. al. (2004) assigned a 1293 CE date to a 1 cm. thick Type 4 seismite at a depth of 94.81 cm. (0.9481 m).



Dead Sea - Nahal Ze 'elim

At site ZA-1, Ken-Tor et al (2001a) assigned a a date of 1293 CE to a ~15 cm. thick Type 4 seismite which they labeled as Event F and was dated between 1270 and 1400 CE (± 2σ). In Table 4 of Kagan et. al. (2011), a 16 cm. thick seismite at ZA-1 was associated with the 1293 CE earthquake. At site ZA-2, Kagan et. al. (2011) did not find any seismites whose time window encompassed 1293 CE.



Araba - Introduction



Araba - Taybeh Trench

LeFevre et al. (2018) assigned a 1293 CE date to a seismite labeled as E3supp (aka E3bis) which was age modeled to between 819 and 1395 CE.



Araba - Qatar Trench

Klinger et. al. (2015) identified one seismic event which might fit.

Event Mean Date Age Range Quake Assignment (Klinger) Quake Assignment (Williams)
E2 1212 CE ± 57 1155-1269 CE 1212 CE Quake not assigned


Araba - Taba Sabhka Trench

Allison (2013) assigned a 1068 CE date to a seismic event which they dated to between 1045 and 1661 CE and Allison (2013) assigned a 1212 CE date to a seismic event which they dated to between the mid 11th century CE and the 16-17th centuries CE.



Araba - Elat Sabhka Trenches

Kanari et al (2020) suggested that a dewatering structure (aka a liquefaction fluid escape structure) found in Trench T1 and dated to before 1269-1389 CE was caused by the 1068 CE Quake(s) or the 1212 CE Quake. Kanari et al (2020) also dated Event E2 in Trench T3 to after 1294 CE and assigned it to earthquakes in 1458 or 1588 CE. Kanari et al (2020) dated sand blows SB1 and SB2 in Trench T3 to between 1287 and 1635 CE and suggested they may have formed during an earthquake in 1458 CE.



Araba - Trenches in Aqaba

Niemi (2011:153) noted that the most recent scarp-forming event fault [in Trench AQ-1] occurred after A.D. 1045-1278 based on a corrected, calibrated radiocarbon age from charcoal collected from a buried campfire at the base of the scarp in Trench T-1. This likely represents fault motion in one of the historical earthquakes affecting southern Jordan (e.g. 1068, 1212, 1458, or 1588).



Notes

Ambraseys (2009)

AD 1293 Jan Palestine

The earthquake in Safar in 692 a.H. (1293) affected the region of al-Karak, destroying three towers of the citadel and many houses. Orders were given to assess the losses, and a team of builders was sent from Damascus to repair the damage. Amir Ala al-Din Aidughdi al-Shujai was put in charge of this expedition, accompanied by builders, engineers and stone-cutters (Ibn al-Furat viii. 154-155; al- Maqrizi:i/3.783), see al-Jaziri (fol. 177).

In al-Ramla, the earthquake was followed by a destructive flood and the minaret of the main mosque fissured and fell.

The earthquake affected places in coastal Palestine from Gaza in the south, where a minaret collapsed, to al-Ramla, Ludd and the castle of Qaqun in the north, where houses were damaged (Al-Jazari, fol. 176- 177/trans. Sauvaget p. 29; al Nuwairi, MS 1578 fol. 164ro; Ibn Kathir xiii. 333; al-Suyuti 50/36 (wrongly under 672 a.H.).

Al-Suyuti says that, during the following year 693 a.H. (1294), an earthquake that was felt throughout Egypt caused some pillars in the mosque of `Amr (in Fustat) to become partially detached, but this was less serious than what happened in the main mosque in Cairo (Al- Suyuti 50/36 and Husn ii. 210. See also Taher (1979, 171-172/238).

Al-Suyuti's source is Ibn al-Mutawwaj (died 730/1330), who was also extensively used by al-Maqrizi in his Khitat on the topography of Fustat, see Guest (1902, 116, 125). The earthquake in Cairo is not mentioned under either 692 or 693 by contemporary Egyptian historians. It is possible that there is a confusion with the earthquake of 698/1299; see below.

It is very likely that the same earthquake is involved. No earlier confirmation of the earthquake in Egypt has yet been found.

Guidoboni and Comastri (2005)

(144) 1293 January 11 - February 8 [Safar 692 H.] Al-Karak [Jordan]

In the month of Safar in the year of the Hegira 692, which corresponds to the period 11 January - 8 February 1293, a strong earthquake struck Palestine, causing the most serious damage at Al-Karak, to the east of the Dead Sea (now Jordanian territory). Three towers in the citadel collapsed, as well as some other buildings. There was also comparable damage at the nearby town of At-Tafilah, where many building collapses are reported. In the coastal area (now part of Israel), there was serious damage at Ramla, where the earthquake followed a devastating flood, and caused the minaret of the congregational mosque to collapse. The earthquake also caused damage, not specified, at Gaza, Lydda (present-day Lod) and Qaqun.

The reports of this earthquake in Arabic sources are all very similar, except in the case of Ibn Kathir, who is the only historian to mention At-Tafilah amongst the places that suffered damage. The contemporary Damascene writer al-Jazari (1260-1338) reports:
In that year [692 H. = 1292-1293], there was a violent earthquake in the towns of Gaza, Ramla, Ludd [Lydda], Qaqun and Karak. The worst damage was at Karak, to the extent that three of the citadel's towers were destroyed, as were a number of buildings. The earthquake occurred during the month of Safar [692 H. = 11 January 1293 - 8 February 1293], and the news reached Damascus at the same time as the sultan's order, in the month of Rabi`I [692 H. = 9 February 1293 - 10 March 1293], to send Ala' al-Din al-Shuja`i, one of the emirs of Damascus, together with a group of artisans, engineers and stonecutters, with a large quantity of tools to rebuild those parts of the citadel at Karak which had been destroyed.
Al-Nuwayri (1279-1332) provides a briefer report:
In this year, during the month of Safar [692 H. = 11 January 1293 - 8 February 1293], there was a violent earthquake at the towns of Gaza, Ramla, Ludd [Lydda], and Karak. Karak was particularly affected, for three towers of its citadel were destroyed, and the Emir 'Ala' al-Dine of Damascus was sent with some artisans to rebuild what had been destroyed there.
As already mentioned, the evidence provided by Ibn Kathir (1300-1373) is important, because it also tells of damage at Tafila:
In the month of Safar [692 H. = 11 January 1293 - 8 February 1293], it was very cold in Syria, and in that year there was an earthquake at Karak and many buildings were destroyed at Tafila.
Finally, al-Maqrizi (1364-1442) records:
In the month of Safar [692 H. = 11 January - 8 February 1293], the towns of Ghaza, Ramla, Ludd and especially Al-Karak, were struck by a violent earthquake. Of the towers at Al-Karak, three were destroyed. A message from al-Ghars ibn Shawr, governor of Ramla, told that there had been incessant rain, causing destruction in fields and houses. The flood knocked down bridges and mills on the river 'Awja'. The bodies of eleven drowned lions were found in the flood waters. Immediately after the flood, a tremendous earthquake struck the coastal towns. The earthquake caused destruction in many places; and the minaret of the congregational mosque at Ramla was so badly cracked that it collapsed. The governor was ordered to assess the damage, and the Emir 'Ala' al-Din Aydgudi al-Shuja`i was sent with labourers and skilled workers to rebuild what had collapsed at Al-Karak.

Ambraseys et al (1994)


Fig. 2.13 1293 January, Dead Sea. (Ambraseys et al, 1994)

1293 January Safar 692 Dead Sea

A strong earthquake occurred in the region of Ghazza (Gaza), affecting al-Ramla, Ludd, Qaqun and al-Karak - particularly the latter, where three towers of the citadel were destroyed and many houses (see Figure 2.13).1 In al-Ramla, the earthquake followed a destructive flood. The earthquake ruined many places in coastal Palestine and the minaret of the main mosque at al-Ramla fissured and fell; the minaret at Gaza also collapsed. Orders were given to assess the damage in both places, and a team was sent from Damascus to repair the damage to al-Karak.2

Al-Suyuti says that the following year, 693/1294, an earthquake that affected all Egypt caused some pillars in the mosque of 'Amr (in Fustat) to became partially detached, but this was less serious than what happened in the main mosque in Cairo.3 It is very likely that the same earthquake is involved. No earlier confirmation of the earthquake in Egypt has yet been found.4

Footnotes

1 Al-Jazari, fol. 176-7/trans. Sauvaget, p. 29; al-Nuwairi, Ms. 1578, fol. 164ro; Ibn Kathir, XIII, 333; al-Suyuti, p. 50/36 (wrongly under 672 H).

2 Ibn al-Furat, VIII, 154-5; al-Maqrizi, I/3, 783. Amir 'Ala al-Din Aidughdi al-Shuja'i was put in charge of this expedition, accompanied by builders, engineers and stone-cutters, see al-Jazari, fol. 177.

3 Al-Suyuti, l.c. and Husn, II, 210. See also Taher (1979), pp. 171- 2/238; Ambraseys (1961), p. 27.

4 Al-Suyuti's source is Ibn al-Mutawwaj (d. 730/1330), who was also extensively used by al-Maqrizi in his Khitat on the topography of Fustat, see Guest (1902), pp. 116, 125. The earthquake in Cairo is not mentioned under either 692 or 693 by contemporary Egyptian historians. It is possible that there is a confusion with the earthquake of 698/1299.

Abou Karaki (1987) Earthquake Catalog

English

* from 12 JAN. - 11 FEB. 1293 AD, SAFAR 692 A.H

- SAFAR 692 A.H. (1293 A.D.), Ramla (VIII) Karak (VIII) (PTAH).

- Same dates and remarks as above,... The cities of Gaza, Ramla, Lod and Karak were affected by a violent earthquake, the maximum intensity is located in Karak where three towers of the citadel were destroyed,... In a letter from the Governor of Ramla we find,..., "the rain has not ceased falling day and night, causing the destruction of houses and bridges, as well as flooding; this was followed by a violent earthquake, which particularly affected the areas coastal; the minaret of the mosque of Ramla cracked and it fell,..., The emir in Damascus has wrote to the governor of Ramla, asking him for an assessment of the damage,..., this emir sent masons to repair the destruction that occurred in KARAK. (TAHA)

NAJA: this earthquake therefore affected both Karak and Ramla and its region, localities east and west of the transform (Dead Sea area).

French

* J = Dans l'intervalle (12 JAN. 1293, 11 Fév. 1293), SAFAR 692 apr. H

- SAFAR 692 apr. H, (1293 apr. J.C,), Ramla (VIII) Karak (VIII) Karak (VIII) (PTAH). - Mêmes dates et remarques que ci-dessus,... Les villes de Gaza, Ramla, Lod et Karak ont été affectées par un séisme violent, dont l'intensité maximale est située à Karak où trois tours de la citadelle ont été détruites,... Dans une lettre du Gouverneur de Ramla on trouve,..., "la pluie n'a cessé de tomber jour et nuit, causant la destruction des maisons et de ponts, ainsi que des inondations; cela a été suivi par un tremblement de terre' violent, qui a touché particulièrement les zones côtières; le minaret de la mosquée de Ramla s'est fissuré et il est tombé,..., L'émir à Damas a écrit au gouverneur de Ramla, en lui demandant une évaluation des dégâts,..., cet émir a envoyé des maçons pour réparer les destructions survenues à KARAK. (TAHA)

NAJA : ce séisme a donc affecté aussi bien Karak que Ramla et sa région, soient des localités à l'Est et à l'ouest de la transformante (zone de la Mer Morte).

References

Abou-Karaki, N. (1987). Synthèse et carte sismotectonique des pays de la bordure Orientale de la Méditerranée: sismicité du système de foilles du Jourdain – Mer Morte, University of Strasbourg, France. Ph.D. Diss.

Arieh (1977)

5. THE EARTHQUAKE OF 1293

a. Sources

This was a destructive earthquake. Ibn al-Furat writes (Ta'rikh, Beirut, 1939, vol. VII, p. 154):

In the month of Safar (12th January - 9th February) a vigorous earthquake occurred in the area of Ghaza, Ramleh, Lydda and Kerak. It was most heavily felt in Kerak where three towers of the for less were ruined ... It was particularly destructive along the coast. It ruined many places. The minaret of the Friday mosque.of Ramleh cracked and collapsed ... as well as the minaret of Ghaza.
b. Estimated Seismic Intensities and Epicenter

Highest seismic intensity - VIII (MMS) - was possibly attained in the destruction of the three fortress towers in Kerak. Seismic intensities at Ramleh and Ghaza were probably VII - suggested by cracking of the minarets (which are generally delicate structures), and by the absence of other reported damages. Effects are summed up in Table 5 and plotted in Figure 4.

Table 5: The 1293 Earthquake
Site Damage Estimated Max I (MMS)
Kerak Three fortress towers destroyed VIII
Ramleh Mosque's minaret cracked VII
Lydda No damage reported VI
Ghaza Mosque's minaret cracked VII
The epicenter was probably in the Dead Sea Rift Valley near Kerak. However, it is difficult to explain the absence of reported damages from other cities (e.g. Nablus, Jerusalem, Hebron, etc) which generally suffer from such earthquakes.

Maximal seismic intensity at the NP-1 site could not exceed the intensities attained at the affected sites nearer the epicenter (Ramleh, Lydda). Thus it could not exceed VII.

References

Arieh, E. (1977). An Evaluation of Six Significant Historical Earthquakes, Jerusalem, Israel: Report for the Seismological Section of the Geologic Survey of Israel.


Figure 4

Kagan (2011)

1293 AD: Based on evidence at an archeological site built on the Arava segment of the DST, the northern Arava did not rupture during this event [ Haynes et al., 2006]. We consider the 12 km-long Amatzyahu fault (Figure 3.1.1) as the source for this event. This rupture length is consistent with a 6.2-6.7 magnitude earthquake. The maximum intensity recorded for this event was recorded at Karak (eastern Dead Sea), 45 km from the Amatzaya fault [ Ambraseys et al., 1994, Guidoboni and Comastri, 2005] consistent with a magnitude of 6.7 according to the Ambraseys and Jackson equation (eq. 1). Taking into account poor construction and site effects this intensity could be achieved at a somewhat lower magnitude.

Additional Note by JW: The Qasr Tilah site ( Haynes et al., 2006) may not have ruptured during more than one Araba earthquake. It is possible that ruptures in the Araba during the 1293 AD event occurred to the west of Qasr Telah on other sub parallel faults or the Amatzyahu fault mentioned by Kagan (2011). Masson et al (2015) suggests that relative motions between tectonic plates in the Northern Araba/ Southern Dead Sea is taken up by multiple faults to the east and west. In some ways the 1293 CE Quake may be a more energetic version (i.e., bigger fault break) of the Jerusalem Quake.

References

Kagan, E. J. (2011). Multi Site Quaternary Paleoseismology Along the Dead Sea Rift: Independent Recording by Lake and Cave Sediments, PhD. Diss. Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Masson, F., et al. (2015). "Variable behavior of the Dead Sea Fault along the southern Arava segment from GPS measurements." Comptes Rendus Geoscience(0).

Taher (1996)

692/1292-1293: in the month of Safar (December January), the earth shakes140 in Ghaza , Ramla, Lud and in the Sâhil killing a large number of people; the minarets of the Ghaza and Ramla mosques collapse. A decree from the sultan designates the emir ` Alâ ' al-Dîn Aydghudi al-Shuja`î as the sultan's delegate to Damascus and sent him with workers to carry out repairs in Karak.
Footnotes

140 A1-Maqrîzî, al-Sulûk , 1121944; B. al-Furât , Târîkh , 8/154.

Taher (1979)

692 A.H./1292 AD

Ibn 'Abd Az-Zahr Al-Maqrizi1 and ibn Al-Furât2:

In the month of Cafar, the earth shook in Ghaza, ar-Ramla, al-Lid, al Karak; with prodigious strength. Three towers of the Al-Karak citadel were destroyed. Afterwards, there was a heavy rain storm, which was noted in a letter from the governor of Ramla: Al Ghars ibn Ash-Shawa, fell, who [which?] destroyed the mills of Al 'Awdja' by breaking the stones and all the tools. Eleven lions were found killed by the storm. After this storm, a prodigious earthquake occurred which ravaged the coastal countries, killing a large number of people, and which demolished the minaret of the mosque of Ar-Ramla. A decree from the Sultan determines the damage. The minaret of the Ghaza mosque was also destroyed and another decree was issued which determined the damage. The Emir Ala' ad—Din Aydghudi Ash—Shudjac' was delegated from Damascus with workers to carry out reparations to Al Karak for an honorable decree.
Footnotes

1 Al Suluk, 1/3/783.

2 Traikh, 8/154.

References

Taher, M.A. (1979): Corpus des texts arabes relatifs aux tremblements de terre et autres catastrophes naturelles, de la conquete arabe au XII H/XVIII JC, Ph.D. Thesis (Univ. Paris), 337 pp.

Paleoclimate - Droughts

References

Taher, M. A. (1979). Corpus des textes arabes relatifs aux tremblements de terre et autres catastrophes naturelles de la conquête arabe au XII H./XVIII J.C. [S.l.], [s.n.].