Estimation of maximum mass velocity from macroseismic data: A new method and application to archeoseismological data

A new method for estimating peak ground velocity (PGV) values from macroseismic data has been successfully applied to archeoseismological evidence, suggesting that strong earthquakes with PGVs of approximately 1.5 m/s likely struck ancient cities in the Negev desert around the mid-7th century. This finding implies a magnitude range of M ≈ 6.5–7.5 for the causative earthquake(s), with epicenters potentially located dozens of kilometers from Rehovot-ba-Negev and other affected sites. The study builds on earlier intensity estimates (8–9) by analyzing seismic damage patterns in abandoned cities and irrigation systems, linking their decline to both Arab conquest and severe seismic events. The approach combines rock block displacement analysis with archeoseismological data, offering a novel tool for long-term seismic hazard assessment.

Rodkin, M. V., & Korzhenkov, A. M. (2019). Estimation of maximum mass velocity from macroseismic data: A new method and application to archeoseismological data. Geodesy and Geodynamics, 10(4), 321–330. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geog.2018.06.010