EarthquakesIsrael considering earthquake-proofing important Biblical-period structures
Israel is located in one of the world’s earthquake-prone areas, along the friction point of the African and Arabian tectonic plates.Officials in Israel are taking preventative measures to protect the country’s most important ancient sites from earthquake damage. Engineers from the University of Padua in Italy have installed sensors throughout the Tower of David, one of Jerusalem most important historical sites, to determine what sort of earthquake-proofing may be needed. Some experts opined that in the event of an earthquake, Jerusalem’s most ancient structures might actually be the city’s most dependable. “If they still stand after so many earthquakes during the last 2,000 years, they must be good structures,” one of them said.
Officials in Israel are taking preventative measures to protect the country’s most important ancient sites from earthquake damage. Israel is located in one of the world’s earthquake-prone areas, along the friction point of the African and Arabian tectonic plates.
A series of five moderate earthquakes in October 2013 led experts to install a seismic monitoring system at the Tower of David, one of Jerusalem most important historical sites. The Star-Tribune reports that this is Israel’s first attempt to use such technology to determine structural weaknesses in the country’s ancient structures. Efforts have been slow as authorities try to avoid publically declaring certain sites as vulnerable.
“We have to remember that this is the Holy Land,” said Avi Shapira, head of a national steering committee for earthquake preparedness. “We have some responsibility not only to preserve the historical monuments of our personal heritage … but also for the rest of the world.” Most of Israel’s historical sites “have not been checked,” said Shapira. “We have them on the map, but an engineer still hasn’t visited them.”
Government experts are reluctant to publish findings on historical sites which are at risk, and it is uncertain which government authority will be responsible for sites if earthquake damages occur.
The Tower of David is currently the only site among the many ancient structures in the country which is being checked for possible earthquake risk. “This is the symbol of the city, the symbol of Jerusalem, for more than 2000 years. So that’s why this is a real nightmare for us,” said Eilat Lieber, director of the Tower of David museum. Star Tribune notes that researchers from the University of Padua in Italy installed sensors throughout the tower to determine what sort of earthquake-proofing may be needed. Accelerometers along the tower will measure movements initiated by wind and traffic in order to predict how an earthquake would affect the tower. At the very top of the minaret, thin bars attached to the stones slide like bicycle tire pumps to measure the movement of cracks. Information collected by the device will be used to determine structure flaws in the tower.
Initial assessments of the Tower of David are promising. Claudio Modena, an engineer at the University of Padova, said the tower should be capable of withstanding an earthquake because its ancient foundations sit on bedrock. Three steel rings which hug the cracked minaret, installed during British rule, have helped save the tower from collapse.
According to Orna Cohen, chief conservator of the Tower of David, in the event of an earthquake, Jerusalem’s most ancient structures might actually be the city’s most dependable. “If they still stand after so many earthquakes during the last 2,000 years, they must be good structures,” Cohen said.
