Stratum IVA Earthquake
Eran Arie in Finkelstein et al. (2013, Vol. 1:270–272)
reported a collapse and destruction layer in Level H-5,
correlating with Stratum VA–IVB. The
"most significant evidence for collapse and destruction
is located in the southern parts of the area [and] may
testify that a building stood right to the south of
Area H". He further noted that
"the destruction of this city was not complete and
certain parts of the mound did not show evidence of
destruction by fire" (Finkelstein 2009:117).
Knauf (2002:2) reported that
"the occupation of Phase H5a [correlating with
Stratum IVA] was terminated by an earthquake, which
cracked the city wall and strewed parts of walls of
these southern buildings all over Area H".
Marco et al. (2006) documented tilted and faulted
features across the site, including a staircase
between the Iron II gate complex and a reservoir, a
westward-tilted wall in the courtyard of the Southern
Stables, fractures in the walls of Silo 1404, and
fractures in the limestone bedrock of Tunnel 1000 in
the water system. Although they identified the
~760 BCE
Amos earthquake as the most likely candidate, they
emphasized that the absence of a secure
terminus ante quem introduced
chronological uncertainty and allowed for the
possibility of a later causative event. The
terminus post quem was placed at
c. 800 BCE.