The Chronology of the Settlement At Qumran in the Herodian Period

TLDR: In this article, the authors reexamine the evidence for the 30-plus year occupational gap postulated by de Vaux between Periods Ia, II and III, and conclude that the end of Period Ia was marked by an earthquake and a fire.

Abstract: The chronological framework suggested by R. de Vaux for the settlement at Qumran is based almost exclusively upon the numismatic evidence, in conjunction with historical/literary considerations. De Vaux divided the settlement of the sectarian community at Qumran into three phases, which he termed "Period Ia," "Period Ib," and "Period II." These "periods" were defined on the basis of stratigraphic and architectural evidence. In approximate terms, de Vaux dated Period la to the third quarter of the second century BCE, Period Ib from the last quarter of the second century BCE to 31 BCE, and Period II from 4-1 BCE to 68 CE.' This paper reexamines the evidence for the 30-plus year occupational gap postulated by de Vaux between Periods Ib and II. According to de Vaux, the end of Period Ib was marked by an earthquake and a fire. Evidence for earthquake damage was found throughout the settlement. It is perhaps clearest in the case of one of the cisterns (locus 49), where the steps and floor were split and the eastern half had dropped. The testimony of Flavius Josephus2 enabled de Vaux to pinpoint the date of this earthquake to 31 BCE. In addition to the earthquake damage, there was evidence for a fire in the settlement. De Vaux concluded that the earthquake and fire were simultaneous, because it was the simplest solution, but he readily admitted that there was no evidence to confirm this.3 De Vaux used the numismatic evidence to support his interpretation. All ten identifiable coins of Herod the Great found at Qumran came from mixed levels, where they were associated with later coins. De Vaux noted that the Herodian coins were not dated, and cited a then recent study assigning such coins to the period after 30