Near the foothills of the Ararat Mountains in eastern Turkey, a site known as the Durupinar Formation has attracted renewed scientific and archaeological interest nearly 80 years after it was first discovered. Situated about 18 miles south of Mount Ararat, Turkey’s highest peak, the formation resembles the shape of a large boat, prompting ongoing investigations into its origins and significance.
A US-based team known as Noah’s Ark Scans has recently reported that the formation may represent the remains of a man-made vessel consistent with the biblical description of Noah’s Ark. The group, which includes creationist advocates such as Lauren Witzke and project founder Andrew Jones, has employed modern technology— including LiDAR surface mapping, drone imaging, thermal mapping, electrical resistivity tomography, ground-penetrating radar, and core soil drilling—to study the site in detail. Small robotic probes have even been deployed to explore subsurface cavities.
According to the team, preliminary data suggest a boat-shaped structure measuring approximately 515 to 538 feet in length, 85 feet in width, and about 52 feet in height, closely matching the biblical dimensions outlined in Genesis. They report evidence of three internal levels, a central corridor, and intersecting passageways, as well as soil samples revealing significantly higher levels of organic material, potassium, and altered pH relative to surrounding areas. Andrew Jones has described layers of rich organic matter found up to 60 feet deep, which the team believes may be remnants of decayed wood or other materials originally part of the vessel.
Lauren Witzke emphasized that this discovery, if confirmed, could have wide-ranging implications, including challenging prevailing scientific theories about evolution and Earth's history. She framed the findings as tangible proof supporting biblical narratives, however, recognizing that their interpretation remains controversial.
While the Noah’s Ark Scans team is composed largely of supporters with a religious motivation, the investigation also includes established geologists and archaeologists from academic institutions. Archaeologist Cenker Atila of Sivas Cumhuriyet University is overseeing the broader research efforts, and Dr. Khosrow Bakhtar has led radar surveys on the site. Their perspectives are more measured. Dr. Atila has acknowledged the emerging evidence of an underground structure resembling a boat but cautioned that it would be premature to definitively identify the formation as Noah’s Ark without further data. He highlighted the importance of forthcoming soil analysis results, including potential organic and DNA evidence, which could shed light on the nature and age of the structure.
Skepticism remains among many in the scientific community. Critics point out that the Durupinar Formation has long been interpreted as a natural geological feature, specifically a solid rock formation, rather than a constructed vessel. Questions persist about the feasibility of the biblical narrative itself—such as the logistical challenges of housing thousands of animals on a single ark, sustaining them for months, and whether a global flood ever occurred. Some scholars suggest that the Ark story may be metaphorical, rooted in ancient flood myths, rather than a literal historical event.
Previous scientific studies, including work at the University of Leicester, have explored the plausibility of the Ark’s seaworthiness, concluding that a vessel built to the biblical specifications could indeed float with a large number of animals aboard. Nevertheless, substantial empirical evidence is still lacking.
As autumn approaches and fieldwork concludes for the season, researchers hope that ongoing laboratory tests and planned DNA analyses scheduled for next year will provide clearer answers. Meanwhile, conservation efforts are underway to preserve the currently deteriorating site. The Turkish government has thus far allowed continued investigations, but the broader significance of the Durupinar Formation—whether as a natural curiosity, an ancient boat, or the Ark itself—remains an open question inviting further study and debate.