Event C at Nahal Ze'elim site ZA-1 is a 5.5 cm thick Type IV seismite with an estimated intensity of 9. ZA-1 was the first site in Nahal Ze'elim to be systematically investigated for Holocene paleoseismicity and established the basic framework for correlating earthquake-generated deformation structures with the historical earthquake record of the Dead Sea region. The site occupies a relatively landward position within the Ze'elim Terrace compared with the more seaward exposures examined in later studies such as Kagan et al. (2011). As a result, ZA-1 contains a greater proportion of shoreline and nearshore facies, whereas the later studies accessed more seaward sections characterized by thicker and more continuous lacustrine deposition. These more offshore settings preserved a larger number of earthquake-induced deformation horizons, resulting in a more complete Holocene paleoseismic record than was available at ZA-1.
Event C occurs within the northern gully at site ZA-1 and is hosted within the Ze'elim Formation, a sequence of laminated aragonite and detrital sediments deposited in the paleo-Dead Sea following the retreat of Lake Lisan. The deformed horizon occurs 178.5 cm above the base of the studied section, 32.5 cm above the sample that dates Event B. It takes the form of a mixed layer only a few centimeters thick and appears to be discontinuous. This makes Event C a much weaker sedimentary expression than Event B, which could be traced across all of the studied outcrops. Its limited thickness and discontinuous preservation suggest either weaker shaking at ZA-1, a more distant source, less favorable sedimentary conditions for deformation, or some combination of these factors.
Unlike Events A and B, Event C was not dated by a sample collected directly from the deformed layer because no datable organic debris was recovered from the unit. Its age was estimated from the sedimentation rate in this part of the ZA-1 section. Using a rate of 4-9 mm yr-1, Ken-Tor et al. (2001a) initially estimated a broad age range of 64 BCE-311 CE ( 2σ). This age range was subsequently reduced to 5-50 CE by using Event B as a chronological anchor point. Located 32.5 cm below Event C and correlated with the 31 BCE Josephus earthquake, Event B provided a historically constrained datum from which the age of Event C could be estimated using the local sedimentation rate.
Ken-Tor et al. (2001a) correlated Event C with a 33 CE earthquake listed in earthquake catalogs of the time and originating from an account of the death of Jesus of Nazareth in the 27th chapter (27:50-27:54) of the New Testament Gospel of Matthew, an interpretation that was subsequently adopted by Agnon et al. (2006: Figure 8). Williams (2004) used spatial analysis to estimate a magnitude of approximately 6.3. Given the uncertainty inherent in this analysis, a magnitude in the range of 6.0-6.5 is probably a reasonable estimate. The apparent recognition of this event at both En Gedi and En Feshkha provides additional support for a 6.0-6.5 magnitude estimate. Further support for the existence of an earthquake around this time was provided by Williams et al. (2011), who used varve counting in the En Gedi core to estimate an age of 31 ± 5 CE (26-36 CE) for the earthquake. However, Williams (2004) and Williams et al. (2011) did not necessarily accept that this event can be directly equated with the Matthew 27 earthquake account that is listed in the earthquake catalogs consulted by Ken-Tor et al. (2001a) and Agnon et al. (2006). The historical narrative contains strong supernatural elements and its chronology stating that the earthquake struck at the very moment after Jesus died on the cross is not beyond question. The geological evidence supports the occurrence of a real earthquake in the early first century CE independent of the historical text. This earthquake may underlie the Matthew 27 tradition, may have nothing to do with this tradition, or it may represent an actual seismic event that eventually became incorporated into that account even if the timing or context of the historical narrative was altered during its transmission. More detailed discussion of the earthquake reported in connection with the crucifixion of Jesus can be found in the writeup for the Jerusalem earthquake.
- Fig. 1c Oblique aerial photo of
SW Dead Sea showing Masada and Zeelim Plain from Agnon et al. (2006)
An oblique air photo looking southward at the southwestern part of the Dead Sea showing faults (solid lines) and locations of studied late Pleistocene sections M and PZ. MFZ—Masada Fault Zone. The photo was taken in 1940 when the lake level was 395 m below sea level. The current level is 420 m below sea level; additional area has emerged, including the Ze' elim fan outcrop.
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Agnon et al. (2006)- Nahal Ze'elim outcrop areas
in Google Earth
ZA-I is a guesstimate
click on image to explore this site on a new tab in Google Earth- Figure 2 Annotated Lithosection
of ZA-1 with interpreted ages noted from Ken-Tor et al. (2001a)
The lithology and chronology of a composite section exposed in Ze'elim Plain. The section is described from two outcrops exposed in different gullies 300 m apart. The correlation between the outcrops is based on the sedimentary sequence, laminae counting, and 14C dates. Ages presented in 14C years B.P. Deformed units (mixed layers and liquefied sands) are marked by capital letters.
slightly modified by JW - red dates as interpreted by JW added
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Ken-Tor et al. (2001a)- Figure 8 Age Model for ZA-1
from Agnon et al. (2006)
A modified age model for the Ze'elim section studied in outcrop (Ken-Tor et al., 2001a) and drill core (Migowski et al., 2004). A–H denote events discussed in the text. The present model was constrained by two rules:
(1) each event horizon (top of each intraclast breccia) matches a historical earthquake of notice.
(2) each continuous deposition segment shows a uniform deposition rate.
Two outcomes support the model. Two of the breccia layers match pairs of earthquakes (64–31 BCE; 1202–1210 CE) such that the earlier event horizon is within the breccia layer and the later event matches the top. With these assignments for the event horizons, the model gives a uniform sedimentation rate of 0.5 cm/yr during the three periods separated by hiatuses.
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Agnon et al. (2006)- Figure 3 Age Model for ZA-1
from Ken-Tor et al. (2001a)
Table 1
- Chronology of the deformed units (seismites) in the Ze'elim section. Solid dots represent 14C ages in years B.P. Error bars represent the ranges in the calibrated ages (2σ) of all samples in each stratigraphic horizon. Vertical thin lines represent historical earthquakes in the Dead Sea area, which were correlated to the deformed units in the Ze'elim section. Horizontal dashed arrows are drawn from the deformed units (listed in capital letters) to the correlative earthquakes.
- Sedimentation rates calculated for the lower part of the composite section. The longest calibrated range was used for calculating the minimum sedimentation rate, and the shortest range for calculating the maximum sedimentation rate. Two clear unconformities are evident. The upper one is dated to 1290-1420 A.D., and the lower one to 1030-1210 A.D. The lower unconformity is marked by a sharp decrease in the sedimentation rate. Vertical dashed lines represent earthquakes that lie within the sedimentological hiatuses. Sedimentation rate of the upper part of the section was not calculated because datable samples were insufficient.
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Ken-Tor et al. (2001a)- Table 1 Radiocarbon Table
from Ken-Tor et al. (2001b)
AMS results of 14C dating. Calibrated dates according to Stuiver et al. (1998). The samples are listed by stratigraphic height, from top to bottom. Samples collected from seismite units are shown in bold.
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Ken-Tor et al. (2001b)- Table 1 Radiocarbon Table
from Ken-Tor et al. (2001a)
AMS Results of Radiocarbon Dating
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Ken-Tor et al. (2001a)- Table 2 Refined Radiocarbon Table
from Ken-Tor et al. (2001a)
The 14C Chronology of the Deformed Layers (Seismites)
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Ken-Tor et al. (2001a)- Figure 4e Calibrated Radiocarbon Ages
from Ken-Tor et al. (2001b)
Chronology of the seismite record
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Ken-Tor et al. (2001b)- Fig. 2 Sediment Core comparisons
and Age-Depth Models for Ein Gedi, En Feshka, and Nahal Zeelim from Migowski et al. (2004)
Lithology of the sediment cores and the established age-depth models of the different profiles. The Ze'elim coring profile is paralleled by the Ze'elim gully wall. The Ein Gedi chronology is based on 20 radiocarbon dates and on the varve-counted section (black line) in the upper part.
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Migowski et al. (2004)- Correlated Trench Logs used
to Produce Composite ZA-1 Litholog from Revital Bookman (née Ken-Tor)
The final lithosection of Bookman (née Ken-Tor) is a composite litholog derived from multiple sites located up to approximately 300 m apart. ZA-1 refers to the location from which a large portion of the composite lithosection was constructed. More landward gullies were used to capture the most recent earthquakes, including Events G (1834 CE) and H (1927 CE). Bookman referred to site ZA-1 as Site 2.
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Revital Bookman (née Ken-Tor)
Left
Events B (Josephus Quake - 31 BCE) and C (Jerusalem Quake - 26-36 CE) at site ZA-1
Photo by Jefferson Williams (2000)
Right
Mixed layer B (see also Figure 2) composed of aragonite fragments suspended in fine dark detritus. The fragments are few millimeters to few centimeters long and do not show any preferred orientation. The overlying and underlying (not seen in the figure) laminated deposits are undisturbed. This layer is correlated with the 31 B.C. earthquake (see text)
Ken-Tor et al. (2001a)
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Thin Section Slide showing Event C and overlying layers from sample taken at site ZA-1
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Jefferson Williams (2000)
