Event ZT3 was identified in Trench T3 at Tell Saidiyeh, a site situated along the Jordan Valley Fault. The trench was excavated perpendicular to the fault across a fault-generated scarp approximately 2 m high that had been modified for agricultural use. According to Ferry et al. (2011:52-53), the exposure contains a network of shallow subvertical faults distributed across a zone approximately 2 m wide. The faults affect Lisan deposits overlain by a thin sequence of younger fine-grained deposits and Holocene sediments.
The evidence for Event ZT3 consists of two fault splays that rupture unit e on both sides of a large modern root within the trench. According to Ferry et al. (2011:53), the absence of unit e west of the fault splays indicates that vertical displacement on each fault exceeded approximately 15 cm. Event ZT3 is the youngest clearly recognized palaeoseismic event in Trench T3 and postdates Event YT3, which affected the older unit f.
The chronology of Event ZT3 is constrained by its position between units e and d. Ferry et al. (2011:53) conclude that the event occurred shortly before deposition of unit d, which yielded a calibrated radiocarbon date of 1490–1640 CE. Ferry et al. (2011:53) suggest that Event ZT3 most probably corresponds to the 1033/4 CE earthquake alhough other earthquakes are also plausible candidates including the mid-8th century CE earthquakes and the 659/660 CE Jordan Valley earthquake(s).
- 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.
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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.
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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)
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Ferry et al. (2011)Fig. 5c
The exposure of T3 is mainly composed of Lisan sediments. A series of fine-gained colluvial and alluvial units overlays Lisan clays and provides insight on recent events
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Ferry et al (2011)
