Archaeoseismic evidence at Masada is widespread and expressed through wall collapse, vault collapses, roof collapse, fallen columns, tilted walls, human remains, and thick layers of debris. According to Netzer (1991:655), a major earthquake destroyed most of the walls on Masada sometime between the 2nd and 4th centuries CE, indicating a high-energy seismic event affecting the fortress after its Herodian and early Roman phases.

Earlier excavation results by Yadin (1965:30) documented earthquake-related damage within the bath-house, where the caldarium was found filled with massive stone debris attributed to seismic collapse. Yadin interpreted the material sealed on the floors of the bath-house as representing the final occupation phase of the Roman garrison stationed at Masada following its capture in 73/74 CE, as described by Josephus Flavius in The Jewish War.

The dating of this archaeoseismic destruction is constrained by numismatic evidence associated with the garrison phase. Coins recovered from collapsed and sealed contexts include issues dated to the reign of Trajan, with the latest coin recovered from Building VII dating to 110/111 CE ( Yadin, 1965:119). On this basis, Russell (1985) treated the 110/111 CE coin as a terminus post quem for a major regional seismic event, commonly identified as the early 2nd century CE Incense Road earthquake. Russell further used a dedicatory inscription at Petra dated to 114 CE as a terminus ante quem, interpreting the inscription as evidence for post-earthquake rebuilding activity. In contrast, Kirkbride (1960) interpreted the same inscription as reflecting building or rebuilding following the Roman annexation of Nabataea (106 CE), particulalrly the construction of the Via Nova Traiana.