In any case, archaeologists working on the eastern slope at Jerusalem's City of David site have discovered what they think is the first evidence of a catastrophic 8th cent. B.C. earthquake mentioned in the Old Testament's Book of Amos after finding a "destruction layer" containing collapsed buildings with shattered pottery (including bowls, jars and lamps) as well as scattered utensils inside. There was also the complete skeleton of a piglet, which had been crushed alive when the building collapsed on top of it.
That the damage was the result of an earthquake and not military conquest is evidenced by the lack of a burn layer or remains of weaponry.
Zechariah also mentions the earthquake as well some two centuries later demonstrating that the event left a deep impression in the collective memory of the citizens of Jerusalem.
The pertinent verses:
And even some six centuries after that, Josephus referred to the earthquake in his Antiquities, where he linked it to King Uzziah's usurping the authority of the priests to make sacrifices in the temple.
Previously, the earthquake has been linked to one from around 750 B.C. that probably had its epicenter in Lebanon Amos's earthquake: An extraordinary Middle East seismic event of 750 BC. I recognized the lead author, Steve A. Austin, as a young earth creationist who has published some dodgey stuff in the past, but looking through this paper (and while I'm no geologist, I do have a fairly good understanding of the subject), it seems legit.
The article above contains numerous pictures as well as a short video.
That the damage was the result of an earthquake and not military conquest is evidenced by the lack of a burn layer or remains of weaponry.
Zechariah also mentions the earthquake as well some two centuries later demonstrating that the event left a deep impression in the collective memory of the citizens of Jerusalem.
The pertinent verses:
And even some six centuries after that, Josephus referred to the earthquake in his Antiquities, where he linked it to King Uzziah's usurping the authority of the priests to make sacrifices in the temple.
Previously, the earthquake has been linked to one from around 750 B.C. that probably had its epicenter in Lebanon Amos's earthquake: An extraordinary Middle East seismic event of 750 BC. I recognized the lead author, Steve A. Austin, as a young earth creationist who has published some dodgey stuff in the past, but looking through this paper (and while I'm no geologist, I do have a fairly good understanding of the subject), it seems legit.
The article above contains numerous pictures as well as a short video.
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