Ibrahim and van der Kooij (1997: 100–101) reported evidence for a sudden collapse of buildings, with fire at places, which they attributed to an earthquake. Among the finds was pottery that represents types known from Neo-Assyrian palaces, indicating a date most likely after the Assyrian conquest of 732 BCE. Since Ibrahim and van der Kooij (1997: 100) used radiocarbon and associated artifacts to date the overlying Phase VI (substage ii) to the end of the 8th through the 7th century BCE, and the underlying Phase IX to the 9th or 8th centuries BCE, the seismic event responsible for the destruction likely occurred in the late 8th or 7th century BCE.