Earthquake evidence dated to the 1st century BCE or later is reported in Areas A and D. Fantalkin et al. (2024b:270) characterized the Hellenistic structures in Area A and D as constructed of mudbricks that either stood on stone foundations made of local beachrock or were laid directly on the sand. Fantalkin et al. (2024b:270) speculated that it is plausible that they [Hellenistic mudbrick structures in Area A and D] represent auxiliary buildings, which served various logistic functions related to the maintenance of the fortress [aka Citadel located in Area A1]. Lorenzon et al. (2022:6) reports that Hellenistic structures in Area A and D were first abandoned shortly before destruction of the monumental citadel located in Area A1 on the acropolis.

Fantalkin et al. (2024b:273) reports that the stone Citadel/Fortress in Area A1 was destroyed by fire in the late 2nd century BCE due to possible military activity. Lorenzon et al. (2022:6) suggests that it seems that the monumental citadel in Area A1 was destroyed in the late second century B.C.E. as a result of the Hasmonean expansion. Fantalkin et al. (2024b:272) attributes final destruction of Hellenistic Ashdod-Yam as part of the conquests attributed to John Hyrcanus I (r. 134-104 BCE) towards the end of his reign or the beginning of that of Alexander Jannaeus (r. c. 103 - c. 76 BCE) (sometime around 110–100 BCE) (Fischer et al. 2023).

Lorenzon et al. (2022) suggests that after abandonment, the Hellenistic structures in Area A and D were finally destroyed by an earthquake. Lorenzon et al. (2022) did not specify a date for the ensuing earthquake. Fantalkin et al. (2024b:273) suggests that the post abandonment collapse in Areas A and D was possibly due to an earthquake in the 1st century BCE or later.