IN the remote mountains of eastern Turkey, a team of archaeologists and scientists made a discovery that could reignite one of the world’s oldest mysteries: the search for Noah’s Ark.
After decades of speculation, the so-called Durupinar formation — a boat-shaped mound lying just two miles from the Turkey–Iran border — has once again captured the world’s attention.
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The story began with a Kurdish farmer’s curious find in 1948, but it wasn’t until the summer of 2021 that an international team of experts set out to scientifically analyse this intriguing geological formation.
Working under the banner of the “Mount Ararat and Noah’s Ark Research Team,” scientists from universities in Turkey and the United States converged on the site with state-of-the-art technology and a singular mission: to determine whether the formation could hold traces of human activity dating back to biblical times.
Digging for truth
The team approached the project with cautious optimism.
While the Durupinar formation had been known for decades — first brought to wider attention in the 1950s by Turkish Army Captain Ilhan Durupinar — scientific consensus on its origins remained elusive.
Was it merely a natural formation, or could it truly be the petrified remains of the legendary Ark?
In order to answer this, the researchers began collecting nearly 30 samples of soil and rock from the site, each carefully chosen to help unlock the geological secrets of the mound.
Their analysis, conducted at Istanbul Technical University, sought to determine the age and composition of the formation, with a specific focus on identifying signs of ancient human activity or evidence that the site had once been submerged underwater.
The results, when they came, were astonishing.
The samples were dated between 3500 and 5000 years old — perfectly matching the biblical timeline of Noah’s flood.
Even more intriguingly, the team uncovered the presence of clay-like substances and marine materials within the soil.
These findings fuelled the theory that the Durupinar formation might indeed have been part of a marine environment thousands of years ago, strengthening the hypothesis that this could be where Noah’s Ark came to rest.
Unveiling the mystery
It’s hard to ignore the striking shape of the Durupinar formation. From the ground, the site appears as an enormous, 538-foot-long mound, tapering to a point much like the bow of a ship.
For decades, this feature alone has drawn adventurers, scientists, and Ark enthusiasts to the region, hoping that this natural wonder could be the key to unlocking the truth behind one of the Bible’s most enduring stories.
The physical characteristics of the site align closely with the biblical description of the Ark: “A length of three hundred cubits, a width of fifty cubits, and a height of thirty cubits.”
For some, these dimensions are too close to be mere coincidence.
But the significance of this discovery goes beyond its dimensions.
As Professor Dr. Faruk Kaya, Vice Rector of Agri Ibrahim Cecen University, noted: “According to the initial results, it’s believed there were human activities in this region since the Chalcolithic period,” which spans from 5500 to 3000 BC.
This period, marked by the transition from stone to metal tools, places the site firmly within the timeline of ancient civilisations.
Such evidence strengthens the possibility that humans may have used this region during or after a catastrophic flood event.
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Noah’s Ark global significance
For those involved in the research, the importance of this discovery is not limited to its religious implications.
While Noah’s Ark is a key element in Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, the story also speaks to larger human questions about survival, faith, and the fragility of life in the face of natural disasters.
The team’s findings, particularly the marine materials embedded in the formation’s soil, suggest that the area may have been submerged in a vast body of water at some point.
Could this be evidence of the Great Flood?
While the theory remains highly speculative, the notion that ancient humans witnessed and survived such a cataclysm has captivated scholars and theologians alike for centuries.
For Professor Kaya and his colleagues, the potential to link these scientific findings with one of history’s most famous legends is both exhilarating and daunting.
Speaking at the recent 7th International Symposium on Mount Ararat and Noah’s Ark, Kaya emphasised the significance of their work.
“An essential outcome of the symposium is the decision to conduct more research in Cudi and Ararat, known as the Mesopotamian region. Both are referenced in the Holy Quran and the Bible,” he said.
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A history of searching for the Ark
This is not the first time scientists have believed they were close to finding Noah’s Ark.
The Durupinar formation itself was first noted in the early 20th century, though its discovery has long been clouded by competing theories and debates over its origins.
The search for the Ark stretches back to antiquity, with religious pilgrims and explorers alike combing the slopes of Mount Ararat for traces of the fabled vessel.
While some dismissed the formation as a natural phenomenon, others held firm to the belief that the site contained the remains of the Ark, petrified and buried by time.
Modern technology has brought a new level of rigour to these efforts.
From satellite imaging to advanced geological sampling, the tools available to today’s researchers offer unprecedented opportunities to test ancient sites for signs of human activity.
Still, many caution that scientific proof of the Ark’s existence may remain elusive, if not impossible to confirm.
What is the story of Noah’s Ark?
NOAH’S Ark is a biblical story found in the Book of Genesis, chapters 6 to 9.
It describes how Noah, a righteous man, was instructed by God to build a large ark (a type of boat) to save himself, his family, and pairs of every animal species from a catastrophic flood.
According to the story, God decided to flood the Earth because of humanity’s widespread wickedness, but He chose to spare Noah because of his righteousness.
Noah built the ark as instructed, gathered animals and his family, and after the floodwaters receded, they repopulated the Earth.
The story is a key part of the Abrahamic religious traditions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) and is often interpreted as a message of faith, obedience, and God’s promise to never destroy the Earth with a flood again, symbolised by the rainbow.
