Rast and Schaub (2003:346–349) report that the end of Stratum IIB in Field XIV was marked by the collapse of a section of retaining Wall 18 in Field XIV.6. This structural failure was followed by “massive erosion” that led to the “downslope transport and deposition of over one meter of detrital sediment” across the lower areas. The collapse was also associated with significant mud-brick wall tilting of up to ~45°. Although Stratum IIA succeeded Stratum IIB elsewhere at the site, Field XIV was not reoccupied. As Rast and Schaub (2003:346) emphasize, “In Field XIV.6 the damage was so thorough that no later attempts were made to utilize this area.”

Field XIV was built on a steeply sloping surface where notable differences in elevation between structural foundations required the construction of retaining walls and terracing to mitigate erosion and potential soil creep (Rast and Schaub, 2003:341–342). Rast and Schaub (2003:346–349) note that “the collapsed structures in Field XIV raise the question whether an earthquake may have caused these buildings to slump.” Raphael and Agnon (2018:774) argue more directly that the ~45° tilting of mud-brick walls in this area was “probably caused by an earthquake.” While alternative mechanisms such as soil creep, repeated seismic shocks, or a torrential downpour cannot be entirely ruled out, the stratigraphic evidence indicates a sudden slumping, collapse, and debris-flow event, suggesting an earthquake as the most likely trigger.

Dating based on ceramics places Stratum II in late EB III (Rast and Schaub, 2003:356). EB III dates to 2650–2300 BCE according to Meyers et al. (1997) and 2700–2200 BCE according to Stern et al. (1993) and Fall et al. (2023). One radiocarbon sample (Beta-134014, charcoal) recovered from mud-brick debris in Square 3 of Field XIV calibrated to 3240–3100 cal BCE (1σ) and 3400–2900 cal BCE (2σ), fitting EB II rather than EB III.