El Ouahabi et al. (2018) describe an anomalous sedimentary horizon at ~260 cm depth characterized by increased grain size and elevated magnetic susceptibility relative to the surrounding sediments (El Ouahabi et al., 2018:5). Unlike the overlying E2 interval, this layer is not reported to contain clear sand dikes or well-developed sand pillows, and no explicit soft-sediment deformation structures are described.

The evidence therefore reflects a high-energy disturbance within an otherwise low-energy lacustrine setting, likely involving sediment remobilization and input of coarser material. While seismic shaking could account for such a disturbance, the absence of diagnostic liquefaction structures means that an earthquake origin remains possible but not well constrained. Alternative explanations involving high-energy hydrological processes cannot be excluded.

Stratigraphically, the 260 cm anomaly lies within unit 3, falls within the Roman period framework established by the authors’ age–depth model, and dates to ~350 CE.

Fig. 3b - Age–depth diagram for Amik Lake based on calibrated ¹⁴C age results obtained from micro-charcoal remains, ²¹⁰Pb and ¹³⁵Cs activities, correlation with other dated sedimentary sections in the Amik Basin, and historical earthquake tie point - click on image to open in a new tab - El Ouahabi et al. (2018)