Event VT4 was identified in Trench T4 at Tell Saidiyeh, a site situated along the Jordan Valley Fault. Unlike the purpose-excavated Trench T3, Trench T4 originated as a cut made during agricultural leveling works and trends northwest–southeast, oblique to the fault trace. The exposure was subsequently widened and cleaned by Ferry et al. (2011). The trench exposes a well-developed fault zone affecting both late Pleistocene and Holocene deposits. Because the trench is oriented approximately 45° to the fault, the deformation zone appears wider than in a perpendicular exposure and provides an unusually detailed record of repeated surface ruptures.
Event VT4 was recognized on fault zone FZ3, one of the major fault splay within the trench and a strand that was also reactivated during the younger Event ZT4. The evidence for Event VT4 is based on differential displacement observed across units i1 and h. According to Ferry et al. (2011:54), the base of unit i1 displays approximately twice as much vertical offset as the base of unit h. The additional displacement preserved at the base of unit i1 cannot be explained solely by the younger Event ZT4 and therefore requires an intermediate earthquake event. Event VT4 was defined to account for this earlier episode of faulting. Ferry et al. (2011:54) interpret that fault movement occurred after deposition of unit i1 but before deposition of unit h.
The chronology of Event VT4 is constrained by its occurrence between deposition of units i1 and h. Based on the available radiocarbon chronology, Ferry et al. (2011:54) derive a broad occurrence window between approximately 11,600 BCE and 4400 BCE. However, this range is influenced by sample Tbc-18, which yielded only 0.04 mg of carbon and is therefore particularly susceptible to contamination and age uncertainty. Because of the very low carbon yield from sample Tbc-18 and the intermediate stratigraphic position of the event, Ferry et al. (2011:54) propose a more restricted age estimate for Event VT4 between approximately 10,900 BCE and 7500 BCE.
- Fig. 3b Location Map of the
Tell Saidiyeh Site from Ferry et al. (2011)
Geomorphology of the Tell Saidiyeh site from a high-resolution total station topographic survey (contour spacing 0.5 m). South of the archaeological tell (located ~100 m to the north; see inset in Fig. 8b), the morphology displays a recent terrace strath (Qto) affected and left-laterally displaced by the fault. The southern edges (dashed lines) of streams serve as piercing points because they are less likely to be eroded than the northern ones in a left-lateral setting. Stream El flows westward along the southern edge of Qto and is displaced by 7 ± 0.5 m across the fault. Stream W2 is a beheaded remnant of El and displays 114 ± 5 m of offset. A minimum emplacement age of 22 ka for W2 yields an average slip rate of 4.9 mm/yr for that period. Solid rectangles represent trenches T3 and T4, which display faulting evidence for the last 17 ka. Blanked areas could not be surveyed because of the presence of agricultural and military facilities.
click on image to open in a new tab
Ferry et al. (2011)- Fig. 5E Stratigraphic Correlation
between Ghor Khabed and Tell Saidiyeh Trenches from Ferry et al. (2011)
Correlations of stratigraphic sections of trenches. The geological formations of Lisan and Damya are common basement-bottom units for trenches. Erosion processes (tilde lines) have major effects on soft sediments, and Trench T3 shows a significant hiatus of the Damya formation. The correlation between alluvial and lacustrine deposits and the related radiocarbon dating (see also Table 1 and Fig. 7) illustrate the different recent depositional environments at trench sites.
click on image to open in a new tab
Ferry et al. (2011)- Table 1 Radiocarbon Table
from Ferry et al. (2011)
Radiocarbon Dating of Samples Collected in Trenches T1 and T2 (Ghor Kabed Site) and T3 and T4 (Tell Saidiyeh Site)
click on image to open in a new tab
Ferry et al. (2011)- Fig. 4a Oblique view of trench
T4 showing Lisan units affected by faulting and liquefaction from Ferry et al. (2011)
Oblique view of trench T4 showing Lisan units affected by faulting and liquefaction in the foreground and sand and silt units in the background
click on image to open in a new tab
Ferry et al. (2011)- Fig. 4b Main Shear Zone of trench
T4 from Ferry et al. (2011)
The main shear zone [of Trench T4) is outlined by a 1-cm-thick layer of crushed sand (thick lines) and displays numerous oriented pebbles.
click on image to open in a new tab
Ferry et al. (2011)Fig. 5d
Trench T4 is originally a road cut that was noticeably extended and cleaned. It is oriented 45° to the fault, which widens the deformation zone. This exposure provides the bulk of the paleoseismic dataset. See text for details.
click on image to open in a new tab
Ferry et al (2011)
