Evaluation of supposed archaeoseismic damage in Israel

Abstract

Studies of ancient seismicity in the Levant are based on the interpretation of biblical, ecclesiastic and historic chronicles, all of which are plagued by exaggeration and misinterpretation. To verify the occurrence of such ancient earth-tremors, archaeological archives in Israel were searched for reports and evidence of ancient catastrophic damage, attributable to earthquakes. Literature and response to questionnaires revealed about 20 sites at which features of ancient destruction were assigned a seismic origin. The actual field evidence included horizons of total destruction, and mainly features of fracturing (joints, fissures, cracks and faults), tilting and subsidence, directed collapse and parallel alignments of fallen columns and masonry. About 75% of these sites lie within or near to the Dead Sea-Jordan Rift, confirming the seismogenic nature of this zone. In spite of their significance and usefulness, the archaeoseismic data cannot be employed as an entirely independent technique for the verification of ancient chronicles and the study of past seismicity. In addition to problems of operator's bias, and bias due to historic information, the critical examination of field evidence cited in support of ancient seismicity has shown that the individual features are difficult to distinguish from features of damage due to poor construction and adverse geotechnical effects. It is essential therefore, in the description of ancient damage and of consideration of its origin, to maintain a proper balance between geological, geomorphological and geotechnical factors on one hand, and historic, anthropogeographic and archaeological factors on the other.