Stratum IVA Earthquake Open site page in a new tab

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.

By Jefferson Williams