Stratum III Earthquake
Ma’oz and Killebrew (1988)
report archaeoseismic evidence from both public
and domestic buildings at the site. They
identified two synagogues, with Synagogue A
first constructed in the late 4th century CE.
Much of this earlier structure was dismantled
when Synagogue B was built, probably in the
early 6th century CE, and Synagogue B was later
remodeled in the early 7th century CE.
Synagogue B appears to have been destroyed by
an earthquake in the mid-8th century CE. This
date is based on ceramics recovered from
undisturbed loci beneath the destruction layer,
which were dated to the end of the 7th and the
beginning of the 8th century CE.
Additional earthquake evidence was found in
domestic buildings east of the synagogue.
Structural destabilization was observed in
several houses, including House C, where a
destruction layer of massive stone tumble and
debris covered the upper pavement.
In this destruction level (stratum III), Ma’oz
and Killebrew (1988) report that they
“found
pottery sherds dating to the mid-eighth
century C.E. Very few
restorable vessels were
recovered from this level, indicating that when
the inhabitants left the site, they took their
possessions with them.”
Taken together, the destruction of Synagogue B
and the collapse of nearby domestic structures
indicate a mid-8th century earthquake that
caused significant damage and likely contributed
to the abandonment of the settlement.
