Only a single phase of occupation was identified at Khirbet Qeiyafa during Iron Age IIA, a chronological assignment derived from radiocarbon determinations, architectural style—most notably the casemate gate —and pottery assemblages. No earlier Iron I remains were "found below it," nor were "later Iron II remains" identified above this occupation level ( Garfinḳel & Ganor 2009:4). The settlement appears to have been short-lived. In Area B, Garfinḳel and Ganor observed that "the settlement existed for only a short period (20–30 years), as no evidence was found indicating the elevation of floors or the construction of one wall over another" ( Garfinḳel & Ganor 2009:75). Occupation ended in a massive destruction characterized by fallen objects, broken pottery, and valuable items sealed within the collapse. Garfinḳel and Ganor report "large quantities of restorable vessels" found "in the various rooms," lying on floors and within the debris accumulated between walls ( Garfinḳel & Ganor 2009:85). They suggest that "these vessels probably fell from shelves, from roofs or from higher floors," while the presence of valuable objects, "such as an iron blade and an elaborate basalt bowl," indicates that the site was not abandoned peacefully ( Garfinḳel & Ganor 2009:85). With the exception of one room in the eastern part of the site, no evidence for burning was identified, although the excavators caution that the site has not yet been fully excavated.

No definitive opinion was offered regarding the cause of destruction, whether military or seismic. Pottery and radiocarbon evidence place the occupation around 1000 BCE, possibly during the reign of King David, a date compatible with the High Chronology or Modified Conventional Chronology for Iron Age IIA, but not with the Low Chronology. In Area B, thousands of collapsed stones were found within the casemates of the Iron IIA gate ( Garfinḳel & Ganor 2009:89, 91, 94). These stones were interpreted as originating from upper architectural elements that collapsed "either during the destruction of the city or later, when it was standing in ruins" ( Garfinḳel & Ganor 2009:95). Comparable collapse debris was also identified outside and downslope from the gate in Area C.