In the Taybeh Trench, excavated across the Arava Fault, Lefevre et al. (2018) identify Event E3 as one of the most prominent ruptures preserved within the upper part of the trench sequence. The event horizon is located at the top of layer K, a fine, pinkish sandy unit, where deformation is expressed through extensive fracturing and clear vertical displacement across multiple stratigraphic levels. Unlike earlier events, which are often weakly expressed or obscured by erosion, E3 is characterized by well-defined and laterally continuous deformation. Series of cracks are observed both in the eastern sector near M17 and in the central zone near M9, terminating at the top of layer K. Event E3 may also show up between M3 and M7 as cracks reaching the base of the overlying channel unit (Cu3). At M9, layers I, J, and K are clearly displaced downward by approximately 25 cm, providing a robust measure of vertical offset and indicating significant rupture at the surface.

The structural expression of E3 is therefore strong and unambiguous. The magnitude of vertical displacement, combined with the consistency of fracture terminations, clearly distinguishes this event from adjacent ruptures. As in other trench observations across strike-slip systems, lateral displacement is not directly observable, but the scale and organization of vertical deformation indicate a major surface-rupturing earthquake. From a tectonic perspective, E3 reflects a significant episode of slip along the strike-slip system, accompanied by a pronounced vertical component. The concentration of deformation in two main zones, one near M17–M16 and another near M9, suggests localized partitioning of strain within the fault zone. The magnitude of offset and the extent of fracturing imply a relatively large earthquake compared to earlier events in the sequence.

Chronologically, E3 is poorly constrained. Based on Bayesian modeling of radiocarbon dating of detrital charcoal samples from bounding units, Lefevre et al. (2018) place the event between approximately 287 and 815 CE ( 2σ). Although they suggest one of the mid-8th century CE earthquakes as a plausible candidate, other earthquake make a better fit, such as the late 6th century CE Inscription at Areopolis Quake.

Figure 1 - (a) Detailed log of the southern wall of the trench. Units are differentiated according to facies. White dots indicate locations of ¹⁴C samples collected from both walls (the samples collected from the northern wall are represented at a stratigraphically and structurally equivalent location on the southern wall log). - Click on image to open in a new tab - LeFevre et al (2018)