A team examining a boat-like structure in eastern Turkey believes new findings may support the idea that the site could contain remnants of Noah’s Ark.
Andrew Jones, founder of Noah’s Ark Scans, shared during an interview that “in archaeology, you deal with probabilities,” suggesting that they are moving closer to a point of confirmation as soil analysis progresses with their partner, Sivas University.
The investigation centers on the Durupınar formation, a geological feature stretching about 538 feet situated near Mount Ararat. Its shape and location correlate with the area described in biblical narratives, capturing the interest of Ark enthusiasts for many years.
This boat-shaped formation was initially discovered in 1959, prompting ongoing speculation about its potential link to Noah’s Ark.
Though some critics argue that the formation is merely a natural occurrence, Jones insists that recent drilling, soil sampling, and ground-penetrating radar have provided them with new evidence to question this viewpoint.
“They have criticized us in the past, suggesting those scans can be interpreted in multiple ways,” he explained. “Some said it was just a solid mass of rock or an outcrop of bedrock. However, through core drilling at over 12 locations, we found absolutely no bedrock.”
Jones mentioned that the drilling revealed rich black soil, which researchers intend to analyze for organic content this winter at Ankara University. “According to the Bible, Noah’s Ark was a large wooden vessel,” he noted. “As wood breaks down, it would lead to increased organic matter. This year, while drilling into this formation, we didn’t encounter a solid rock layer as the critics suggested. Instead, we discovered significant amounts of rich black soil that hopefully contain high levels of organic materials.”
The team aspires to determine whether there are indications of human activity or any materials that could suggest decayed wood beneath the formation. Additionally, Jones highlighted data from a 2024 soil survey, indicating that organic matter content inside the boat-shaped structure was three times greater than that from locations just outside.
