Korjenkov and Mazor (2005) identified damage patterns from “at least two heavy earthquakes.” They concluded that the first of these struck during the Byzantine period, “between the end of the 3rd and the mid-6th centuries A.D.” Drawing on Negev (1989), they noted that one or more earthquakes shattered the towns of the central Negev during this timeframe. Although literary sources are scarce, Negev emphasized the abundance of archaeological evidence for such disasters and regarded as a “decisive factor” the widespread restoration of churches throughout the Negev following the earthquakes.

At the Haluza Cathedral, Negev observed two distinct construction phases. In one room, fallen stones and debris from a collapsed upper wall remained unremoved, indicating that the space “was not cleaned after an event.” In another room, the limestone floor slabs had been taken away, but the impressions and ridges left in the hard-packed earth below “suggest that they remained in place until the building went out of use” (Negev, 1989:135).

Korjenkov and Mazor suggested that the strong earthquake responsible for this damage may date to one of the Cyril Quakes in 363 CE, the same year identified for destruction at other nearby cities such as Avdat, Shivta, and Mamshit. Negev (1989), however, suggested a timeframe around 500 CE. This date makes the hypothesized Negev Quake a plausible candidate.

Negev (1989) noted widespread archaeoseismic evidence, rebuilding, and the construction of supporting revetment walls, along with the conversion of churches from one to three apses at towns of the Negev around 500 CE. Epigraphic evidence supports this reconstruction date, such as inscriptions from the North Church at Shivta (aka Sobata) dated to 506 and 512 CE, which indicate that remodeling of the North Church “began in the first decade of the sixth century.”