In the Taybeh Trench, excavated across the Arava Fault, Lefevre et al. (2018) identify Event E7 as a subtle rupture expressed within the laminated sandy sequence overlying layer E. The event is defined by a set of small cracks observed near M17, which extend upward to the top of layer F and are associated with a minor vertical displacement. Compared to E8, which shows clearer displacement and deformation within multiple layers, E7 is more weakly expressed. The cracks are confined to a limited area and are relatively shallow, terminating at the upper boundary of layer F. However, the fine-grained and well-laminated nature of layer F allows these fractures to be identified with confidence, as the continuity of lamination makes even small disruptions readily visible.

The structural expression of E7 is therefore characterized by small-scale brittle deformation rather than significant offset. The limited vertical displacement and restricted extent of the cracks suggest either a lower-magnitude surface rupture or deformation that was partly accommodated through localized strain rather than through large displacements. As in other fault-perpendicular trench exposures, direct evidence of lateral motion is not preserved, and the observed deformation reflects the vertical component of a dominantly strike-slip system. As with Event E8, the interpretation of E7 is less certain than for better-expressed events. Some of the cracks attributed to this event do not penetrate deeply and may display geometries consistent with pull-apart or accommodation structures. This raises the possibility that the observed deformation could represent secondary faulting associated with a later rupture expressed higher up in the trench rather than an independent surface-breaking earthquake. Nevertheless, the consistent termination of cracks at the top of layer F supports the interpretation of E7 as a distinct event within the sequence. From a depositional standpoint, E7 occurred within a phase of relatively stable, fine-grained sedimentation, where laminated sands were accumulating across the trench. The preservation of small cracks within this unit reflects minimal post-depositional disturbance, while the lack of significant displacement indicates that the event did not substantially disrupt the stratigraphic framework. This contrasts with earlier events, where erosion and reworking strongly affected preservation, and with later events, where larger offsets are clearly visible.

Chronologically, E7 is moderately well-constrained. Based on Bayesian modeling of radiocarbon dating of detrital charcoal samples from bounding units, Lefevre et al. (2018) place the event between approximately 520 BCE and 280 BCE ( 2σ). Although still relatively broad, this interval is sufficient to distinguish E7 from adjacent events in the sequence, while the limited structural expression reflects both modest deformation and uncertainty in event interpretation.

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)