Chadwick (1993:38–39) reports that excavations conducted in 1964 by Philip Hammond on the southeastern slope of Tell Rumeida uncovered a subterranean chamber “last used in the Early Bronze I period, probably as a dwelling.” The excavator identified three phases of occupation, the uppermost characterized by “complete ceramic pieces left on the floor by the cave’s Early Bronze I inhabitants, who probably fled the dwelling in consequence of an earthquake.” Chadwick (1993:38–39) adds that “the earthquake seems to have sealed off the chamber from any use in later periods.” Chadwick (1993:Appendix A) also notes that the Early Bronze I occupation at Tell Rumeida ended destructively, though “phase termination [was] uncertain,” resulting in a site-wide occupational hiatus between the Early Bronze I and Middle Bronze II periods.