Phase B Earthquake - Iron IB
Halbertsma (2019:54–55) reports that a
substantial Middle Bronze Age sanctuary was destroyed most likely by an earthquake
during Iron Age I, sometime
after 1180 BCE. This terminus post quem
is supported by a
cartouche of Queen Taousert (r. 1191–1189 BCE) found in the latest
layers of the temple. Halbertsma (2019:55) observed that the destruction event is witnessed in a clearly recognisable destruction
layer, with mud-bricks burnt to a degree of
vitrification
(Franken 1961:367).
Excavation photographs reveal deformation typical of paleoseismic
faulting, including a
flower structure
visible in Trench D100 (Fig. 21). Halbertsma (2019:55) further notes that this event did not cause
the inhabitants to immediately abandon the site as the archaeological record
shows that "attempts were made to rebuild parts of the sanctuary and possibly
salvage some of the temple’s inventory (Franken 1969:20)." Eventually, however,
another fire resulted in the end of this phase, and the site
was briefly abandoned.
Afterward, a series of industrial installations were built
atop the sanctuary debris. Pottery associated with these installations allowed the
Phase B destruction to be dated to the latter half of the 12th century BCE.
Figure 21