Area J-East in the archaeological site of Aila preserves one of the most detailed archaeoseismic records along the southern Dead Sea Transform. Located approximately 500 m north of the modern shoreline of the Gulf of Aqaba and about 500 m northwest of the later Islamic city of Ayla, the Nabatean, Roman, Byzantine, and Early Islamic occupation sequence spans from the first century CE through the Early Islamic period. Aila occupies a tectonic setting at the northern end of the Gulf of Aqaba where left-lateral motion on the Aqaba Fault is transferred westward across the Wadi Arabah by a series of shoreline-parallel normal cross faults. One of these active faults (CF-5) intersects the western part of Area J-East, providing a rare opportunity to document repeated surface faulting, structural damage, repair, and stratigraphic displacement within a well-dated archaeological sequence.
Thomas et al. (2007) report that Earthquake III was preceded by a mid-seventh- to mid-eighth-century occupation marked by Umayyad pottery and mudbrick walls founded on stone footings. They characterized Earthquake III as a major event, observing that rupture occurred on four fault strands (B, C, F, and G), all "within the same fault corridor." While Fault B produced "left-lateral slip on wall J.1:26 of only 4 cm," dip-slip "for all four faults measured in Section 3 was 54 cm, suggesting a major event."
Thomas et al. (2007) further reported that Earthquake III was overlain by a mid- to late-eighth-century CE occupation horizon, indicating that the earthquake occurred sometime between the mid-seventh and mid- to late-eighth centuries CE. Chronologically, the event is compatible with one of the mid-eighth-century CE earthquakes.
- Fig. 1b Quaternary Geologic
Map of the Southern Arava from Thomas et al (2007)
Quaternary geologicmap of the region along the Dead Sea Transform north of the Gulf of Aqaba, showing the geometry offaults in the region of Aqaba, Jordan, and Elat, Israel (modified after Garfunkel 1970).
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Thomas et al (2007)- Fig 2.8 b Map showing location of
location of Area J-east from Niemi (2014)
Map of Aqaba showing the three archaeological sites near the coast, some major roads, and location of cross faults and possible Aqaba fault strands.
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Niemi (2014)- Fig. 2.15 Plan of Area J-east
from Thomas et al (2007)
Faults exposed in the Roman Aqaba Project excavation Area J-East
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Niemi - Chapter 2 from Parker et al (2014)- Fig. 3 Composite columnar
stratigraphic section for J-east site from Thomas et al (2007)
Schematic columnar stratigraphic section of the deposits at the J-East site, showing mudbrick tumble from earthquakes on floor levels, sand horizons, occupational levels, and earthquake event horizons.
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Thomas et al (2007)- Fig. 4 Section drawing of Wall
26 and Wall 48 showing earthquake damage and fault offsets from Thomas et al. (2007)
Section drawing of Wall 26 and Wall 48, showing earthquake damage and fault offsets.
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Thomas et al. (2007)- Fig. 5 Section C stratigraphic
section showing mapped faults from Thomas et al. (2007)
Stratigraphic section of the south and north baulks of J-1, showing mapped faults.
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Thomas et al. (2007)- Fig. 5 Section A stratigraphic
section showing mapped faults from Thomas et al. (2007)
Stratigraphic section of the south and north baulks of J-1, showing mapped faults.
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Thomas et al. (2007)Deformation Map
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Modified by JW from Fig. 2 of Thomas et al (2007)