Ostrasz and Kehrberg-Ostrasz (2020) identified evidence for an earthquake predating the mid-8th-century event, leaving distinct archaeoseismic traces in the eastern part of the carceres. They write that the “final destruction of the building was caused by earthquakes,” explaining that “the masonry of most of the building collapsed during the earthquake of 659/60 CE; only the carceres and the southeast part of the cavea survived that disaster” (Ostrasz and Kehrberg-Ostrasz 2020:4).

The 659/660 CE date appears to have been inferred by correlating the collapse with known historical earthquakes. The latest activity before this destruction — interpreted as stone-robbing — provides a 6th-century terminus post quem (Ostrasz and Kehrberg-Ostrasz 2020:4), while the subsequent mid-8th-century earthquake establishes a terminus ante quem (Ostrasz and Kehrberg-Ostrasz 2020:33). Together, these constraints place the “Final Destruction” earthquake between roughly 600 and 749 CE. The excavators also note that only “intermittent occupation or squatting” occurred in the Hippodrome following this destructive event (Ostrasz and Kehrberg-Ostrasz 2020:5).