The Wadi Sabra Theater is located ~6.5 km. south of Petra ( Tholbecq et al, 2019).

• from Petra - Introduction - click link to open new tab

• from Tholbecq et al (2019)
• There appears to be evidence for two earthquake destructions

Phase	Phase Label	Date	Comments
1	Digging and development of the cavea	no later than the 2nd century CE	This phase corresponds to the rock development of the Sabra theater; no structure or occupation prior to the building has been observed, neither under the built parts of the monument nor in its immediate surroundings. The first available surveys made it possible to restore a Greek-type horseshoe theater This phase must take place no later than the 2nd century CE, without further details for the moment.
2	Closure of the theatrical space and monumentalization of the facade	2nd century CE	This phase is better documented and corresponds to the monumentalization of the theater. an elaborate and manicured building that was built during the 2nd century CE. This dating is relatively reliable on the basis of various surveys
3	Partial destruction and reassignment	2nd-3rd century CE	During this phase, the monument was transformed without knowing whether it completely lost its functionality as a spectacle building. Various clues suggest that the theater underwent violent destruction, at least on the north side: the upper parts of the walls seem to have been destroyed, then rebuilt by recycling collapsed bleacher seats. Another hypothesis would be to see it as an intermediate phase of abandonment of the theater, with a voluntary dismantling. the chronology of this transformation [] happened no later than the 3rd century CE since the landfills were used in the 3rd and 4th centuries CE
4	Construction of a barrier wall to the south of the theater and new secondary facilities.	Late Roman or Byzantine	This phase occurs at a date still undetermined (Late Roman period or Byzantine but not later) We do not know when the destruction of the northern masonry of the orchestra occurred, at the level of the old corridor, rebuilt using the stone seats during the previous phase. However, this destruction is directly posed, both in sounding 2 and in sounding 7, on the embankments of the 3rd-4th centuries CE; we can therefore deduce that this event (earthquake?) occurs shortly after the late Roman period, or even during this period. The monument will no longer be occupied after this phase, being marked only by natural horizons of aeolian and alluvial sediments.

The Phase 3 Earthquake appears to be based on rebuilding evidence. Tholbecq et al (2019) report that various clues suggest that the theater underwent violent destruction, at least on the north side where the upper parts of the walls seem to have been destroyed, then rebuilt by recycling collapsed bleacher seats. An alternative hypothesis suggested voluntary dismantling as a possibility. This happened no later than the 3rd century CE.

Based on soundings in Sectors 2 and 7, Tholbecq et al (2019) reports phase 4 destruction of the northern masonry of the orchestra. They deduce that this event (earthquake?) occurred shortly after the late Roman period, or even during this period.

Effect	Location	Image(s)	Description/Comments
Recycled Building Elements suggests Collapsed Walls	Blockade Walls (aka analemmata) ? Fig. 7 General plan of the theater, based on a photogrammetric survey, with location of soundings (M. Kurdy). Tholbecq et al (2019)		the upper parts of the walls seem to have been destroyed, then rebuilt by recycling collapsed bleacher seats - Tholbecq et al (2019)

Effect	Location	Image(s)	Description/Comments
Displaced Masonry Blocks ?	Northern masonry of the orchestra - Soundings 2 and 7 Fig. 7 General plan of the theater, based on a photogrammetric survey, with location of soundings (M. Kurdy). Tholbecq et al (2019)		destruction of the northern masonry of the orchestra - Tholbecq et al (2019)

• Earthquake Archeological Effects chart
  Earthquake Archeological Effects (EAE)
  
  Rodríguez-Pascua et al (2013: 221-224)
  of Rodríguez-Pascua et al (2013: 221-224)

Effect	Location	Image(s)	Description/Comments	Intensity
Recycled Building Elements suggests Collapsed Walls	Blockade Walls (aka analemmata) ? Fig. 7 General plan of the theater, based on a photogrammetric survey, with location of soundings (M. Kurdy). Tholbecq et al (2019)		the upper parts of the walls seem to have been destroyed, then rebuilt by recycling collapsed bleacher seats - Tholbecq et al (2019)	VIII+

The archeoseismic evidence requires a minimum Intensity of VIII (8) when using the Earthquake Archeological Effects chart of Rodríguez-Pascua et al (2013: 221-224) .

• Earthquake Archeological Effects chart
  Earthquake Archeological Effects (EAE)
  
  Rodríguez-Pascua et al (2013: 221-224)
  of Rodríguez-Pascua et al (2013: 221-224)

Effect	Location	Image(s)	Description/Comments	Intensity
Displaced Masonry Blocks ?	Northern masonry of the orchestra - Soundings 2 and 7 Fig. 7 General plan of the theater, based on a photogrammetric survey, with location of soundings (M. Kurdy). Tholbecq et al (2019)		destruction of the northern masonry of the orchestra - Tholbecq et al (2019)	VIII+

The archeoseismic evidence requires a minimum Intensity of VIII (8) when using the Earthquake Archeological Effects chart of Rodríguez-Pascua et al (2013: 221-224).

• from Wikipedia