Stratum X at Tell Qasile dates to the end of the 11th or beginning of the 10th century BCE, during Iron Age I ( Philistine period). Excavations revealed widespread destruction by fire in both Areas A and C. Mazar (1980:46-47) reported that Temple 131, Room 204, and Building 225 in Area C were destroyed by fire, as were Buildings K, J, W, and O in Area A. However, Shrine 300 in Area C showed no evidence of burning. Instead, its walls had collapsed northward. Similar collapsed mudbrick walls were observed in Street 224. Mazar (1980:46-47) proposed two possible explanations for the destruction: military conquest accompanied by burning and demolition, or an earthquake that caused buildings to collapse and catch fire. He considered military conquest more plausible, possibly associated with conquest by King David. Later, Mazar (2026:594) suggested that the earthquake option "can be negated" and that some type of mlitary conquest was probable, possibly originating from Israelites in the central hill country.