Negev Quake

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late 5th/early 6th century CE

by Jefferson Williams








Introduction & Summary

Archaeoseismic Evidence in the Negev may suggest that a localized earthquake struck the region in the late 5th or early 6th century CE. If so, this may have been a result of a blind thrust
Blind thrust fault

Diagram of blind thrust fault.

(Image courtesy of Stephen Nelson, Tulane University)

USGS Website
. It is also possible that some of this archaeoseismic evidence is a result of the Monaxius and Plinta Quake of 419 CE.

Textual Evidence

Archaeoseismic Evidence

Location (with hotlink) Status Intensity Notes
Avdat possible ≥ 8 The previous earthquake of Korjenkov and Mazor (1999) was dated by Negev (1989) to between ~300 CE and 541 CE and by Erickson-Gini (2014) to the early 5th century. An early 5th century date may suggest the Monaxius and Plinta Quake of 419 CE while Negev (1989)'s wider date range entertains the possibility that damage was caused by the Fire in the Sky Quake of 502 CE or the hypothesized Negev Quake of ~500 CE. Korjenkov and Mazor (1999) did not produce an Intensity estimate for the previous earthquake. The Intensity estimate presented here is based on Seismic Effects associated with rebuilding. A Ridge Effect is likely present at Avdat
Shivta possible ≥ 6 Byzantine Earthquake - Margalit (1987) excavated the North Church at Shivta and discovered two building phases.
  1. The first basilica was a monoapsidal church erected in the mid-fourth century A.D.
  2. After the first church was damaged, most probably by an earthquake, a new one was erected in the beginning of the sixth century A.D.
This rebuilding evidence suggests that an earthquake damaged Shivta around or just before the beginning of the sixth century A.D.. Negev (1989 provided epigraphic support for this ~500 CE date. The Intensity Estimate is based on the construction of revetment or support walls as other seismic effects would have likely been obscured by rebuilding. Construction of support walls suggests wall tilting during a previous seismic event. A site effect at Shivta is unlikely due to a hard carbonate bedrock.
Haluza possible ≥ 8 Korjenkov and and Mazor (2005) surmised that the first earthquake struck in the Byzantine period between the end of the 3rd and the mid-6th centuries A.D.. This was based on dates provided by Negev (1989). The Intensity estimate presented here is based on Seismic Effects categorized as Earthquake Damage Restorations by Korjenkov and and Mazor (2005)
Rehovot ba Negev possible ≥ 7 Korzhenkov and Mazor (2014) identified an earthquake which they referred to as the Late Roman Earthquake. It likely struck between ~500 and ~600 CE; after initial construction (~460 - 470 CE) of the northern church (Tsafrir et al, 1988) where many of the Seismic Effects of Korzhenkov and Mazor (2014) were observed. Korzhenkov and Mazor (2014) estimated the same Intensity (VIII–IX) for 4 seismic events (~500 - ~600 CE Earthquake, 7th century Earthquake, 7th - 8th century Earthquake, and Earthquake(s) in Turkish-British times) and the same direction of the epicenter (ESE). Rehovot ba Negev has a probable site effect as much but not all of Rehovot Ba Negev was built on weak ground (confirmed by A. Korzhenkov, personal communication, 2021). Because of this site effect, the Intensity estimate has been downgraded from ≥8 to ≥7.
Mampsis possible ≥ 8 Mampsis suffers from a problematic and some times debated chronology [e.g., Magness (2003) vs. Negev (1974:412, 1988)]. The 2nd earthquake observed by Korzhenkov and Mazor (2003) is tentatively bracketed to the 5th-7th centuries CE leaving the Negev Quake as a potential cause of destruction. Korzhenkov and Mazor (2003) characterized the 2nd earthquake as having an intensity of IX or more with an epicenter to the SW. Mampsis was characterized as being some distance from the epicenter and removed from the the hypocenter.
el-Lejjun possible ≥ 8 Parker (2006:120) provided a terminus post quem of ~450 CE and a terminus ante quem of ~530 CE for their 2nd earthquake earthquake indicating that it struck between ~450 and ~530 CE.
Castellum of Da 'janiya possible ≥ 8 Godwin (2006:281) identified 3 destruction layers in room T.7. Roughly 2 m of architectural debris overlaid floor T.7:007, representing collapse from the curtain wall and other walls of the room. The 2 m of debris was divided into 3 different layers. Tumble layer T.7:006 was tentatively misdated to 502 CE (Fire in the Sky Quake - too far) which might suggest the ~500 CE Negev Quake caused the destruction. The two later destruction layers were interpreted as earthquake induced but were undated.
Castellum of Qasr Bshir possible ≥ 8 Possible Earthquake between ca. 500 and 636 CE - The site was abandoned by the Romans by 500 CE. After abandonment, limited occupation occurred which may have been no more than a squatter occupation. The site was re-occupied in the Umayyad period (starting in 636 CE ?). Clark (1987) identified a tumble layer in the Post Stratum III gap {ca. 500 to 636 CE) which could have been caused by an earthquake or gradual decay.
En Hazeva possible ≥ 8
(both quakes)		 Two possible candidates.
Earthquake Description
324 CE - 6th century CE earthquake Although Erickson-Gini and Moore Bekes (2019) attributed seismic damage dated to between 324 CE and the 6th century CE to the southern Cyril Quake of 363 CE, their bracketed dates entertain the possibility that the Monaxius and Plinta Quake of 419 CE is also responsible for the observed seismic damage. Erickson-Gini and Moore Bekes (2019) report that coins below collapsed arches in Room 45 provide an apparent terminus post quem of 324 CE while coins above an associated floor date from the first half of the 4th century to the early 6th century CE. Erickson-Gini and Moore Bekes (2019) discussed the structural history of the site as follows:
Three phases of construction and occupation were identified in the camp (Erickson-Gini 2010:97–99). The camp appears to have been built around the time that the Diocletianic fort was constructed on the tell, in the late third or early fourth century CE. It was devastated in the earthquake of 363 CE, which damaged the bathhouse and the fort as well. The camp was subsequently reconstructed and remained in use until the sometime in the sixth century CE.
6th century CE earthquake Erickson-Gini and Moore Bekes (2019) discussed the 6th century earthquake as follows:
The 2003 Excavation

Room 45

Evidence of damage caused by the earthquake that occurred in the sixth century CE was found in the collapse of the western wall of Room 45 (W790); it fell into an open space west of the room (L600). Here, two complete oil lamps were revealed that had apparently sat in a niche in the wall. One belongs to a type that is commonly found in contexts from the first half of the fifth century CE (Fig. 8:1). The other is a Byzantine sandal lamp, commonly found in deposits from the second half of the fifth century CE (Fig. 8:2).
Location (with hotlink) Status Intensity Notes
Avdat



Shivta



Haluza



Rehovot ba Negev



Mampsis



el-Lejjun



Castellum of Da 'janiya



Castellum of Qasr Bshir



En Hazeva



Tsunamogenic Evidence

Paleoseismic Evidence

Location (with hotlink) Status Intensity Notes
Dead Sea - Seismite Types n/a n/a n/a
Dead Sea - En Feshka possible 5.6-8.8
(Heifetz/Wetzler)

7.0-8.6
(Modified Williams)		 Kagan et. al. (2011) identified several seismites at En Feshka which could have been caused by the Fire in the Sky Quake of 502 CE or the hypothesized Negev Quake of ~500 CE.
Top Depth (cm.) Thickness (cm.) Seismite Type Modeled Age (± 1σ) Modeled Age (± 2σ)
210 2 4 500 AD ± 52 491 AD ± 115
212.5 1 Questionable Seismite 491 AD ± 52 480 AD ± 115
220 2 4 462 AD ± 54 452 AD ± 118
228 2 4 430 AD ± 58 422 AD ± 126
Dead Sea - En Gedi possible 7.9-8.8 Migowski et. al. (2004) assigned a 502 CE date from the 1997 GSI/GFZ core in En Gedi (DSEn) to a 0.7 cm. thick Type 4 mixed layer seismite at a depth of 229.91 cm. (2.2991 m). This date assignment matches with the Fire in the Sky Quake of 502 CE or the hypothesized Negev Quake of ~500 CE.
Dead Sea - Nahal Ze 'elim possible 8.4-9.3 At site ZA-2, Kagan et. al. (2011) assigned a 17 cm. thick intraclast breccia and liquefied sand seismite at a depth of 315 cm. to the 551 CE Beirut Quake. However the Inscription at Areopolis Quake was significantly closer and fits within the modeled ages (± 1σ - 537 AD ± 70, ± 2σ - 540 AD ± 88). It is more likely that the seismite at 315 cm. depth was created by the Inscription at Areopolis Quake. The age range for this seismite also matches with the hypothesized ~500 CE Negev Quake and, less likely due to distance, the Fire in the Sky Quake of 502 CE.
Araba - Introduction n/a n/a n/a
Araba -Taybeh Trench possible ≥ 7 Event E3 in the Taybeh Trench (LeFevre et al., 2018) matches well with a ~500 CE date (Modeled Age 551 CE ± 264) however the spread of ages for this event is large and a number of other earthquakes are possible candidates.
Araba - Qatar Trench possible ≥ 7 Event E6 of Klinger et. al. (2015) has a Modeled Age of 251 CE ± 251 and thus could match with the hypothesized ~500 CE Negev Quake.
Location (with hotlink) Status Intensity Notes
Dead Sea - Seismite Types



Dead Sea - En Feshka

Kagan et. al. (2011) identified several seismites at En Feshka which could have been caused by the Fire in the Sky Quake of 502 CE or the hypothesized Negev Quake of ~500 CE.

Top Depth (cm.) Thickness (cm.) Seismite Type Modeled Age (± 1σ) Modeled Age (± 2σ)
210 2 4 500 AD ± 52 491 AD ± 115
212.5 1 Questionable Seismite 491 AD ± 52 480 AD ± 115
220 2 4 462 AD ± 54 452 AD ± 118
228 2 4 430 AD ± 58 422 AD ± 126
Note: Although Kagan et. al. (2011) listed/labeled the Fire in the Sky Quake of 502 CE as 500/502 CE in their paper, the 500 CE part of this date appears spurious. See the discussion titled "Conflation with 500 CE Earthquake" in the Notes section of the Fire in the Sky Quake.



Dead Sea - En Gedi

Migowski et. al. (2004) assigned a 502 CE date from the 1997 GSI/GFZ core in En Gedi (DSEn) to a 0.7 cm. thick Type 4 mixed layer seismite at a depth of 229.91 cm. (2.2991 m). This date assignment matches with the Fire in the Sky Quake of 502 CE or the hypothesized Negev Quake of ~500 CE.



Dead Sea - Nahal Ze 'elim

At site ZA-2, Kagan et. al. (2011) assigned a 17 cm. thick intraclast breccia and liquefied sand seismite at a depth of 315 cm. to the 551 CE Beirut Quake. However the Inscription at Areopolis Quake was significantly closer and fits within the modeled ages (± 1σ - 537 AD ± 70, ± 2σ - 540 AD ± 88). It is more likely that the seismite at 315 cm. depth was created by the Inscription at Areopolis Quake. The age range for this seismite also matches with the hypothesized ~500 CE Negev Quake and, less likely due to distance, the Fire in the Sky Quake of 502 CE.



Araba - Introduction



Araba - Taybeh Trench

Event E3 in the Taybeh Trench (LeFevre et al., 2018) matches well with a ~500 CE date (Modeled Age 551 CE ± 264) however the spread of ages for this event is large and a number of other earthquakes are possible candidates.



Araba - Qatar Trench

Event E6 of Klinger et. al. (2015) has a Modeled Age of 251 CE ± 251 and thus could match with the hypothesized ~500 CE Negev Quake.



Notes

Paleoclimate - Droughts

References

References

Negev, A., The cathedral of Elusa and the new typology and chronology of the Byzantine churches in the Negev, Liber Annus 39 (1989) 129-142.

Rodkin and Korzhenkov (2019)