5,000-Year-Old Boat-Shaped Mound in Turkey May Be Fossilized Remains of Noah's Ark, Claim Researchers

For centuries, the lore of Noah’s Ark has fascinated historians, scientists, and religious scholars alike. Depicted in the Bible as the vessel that saved humanity and animal life from a cathartic and catastrophic flood, the Ark has long been speculated to be a legend by critics. Yet, the mystery surrounding its mere existence continues to intrigue researchers all over the world, stated Arkeonews. Could there be any reality to the ancient saga? Could there be remnants of this ship still waiting to be discovered?

A recent study has sparked the debate, as researchers suggest they may have unraveled the fossilized remains of Noah’s Ark in  Türkiye. This bombshell revelation buzzed around an intriguing boat-shaped mound located in the Durupinar Formation, approximately 30 kilometers south of Mount Ararat, a site historically linked to the biblical narrative. As per the international team of experts who have been analyzing the site since 2021, the formation—believed to have been deep under the water 5,000 years ago—could provide solid evidence supporting the existence of Noah’s Ark. The Mount Ararat and Noah’s Ark Research Team, consisting renowned experts from Istanbul Technical University, Agri Ibrahim Cecen University, and Andrews University in the United States, has focused on analyzing the Durupinar formation, which measures 164 meters in length, stated Arkeonews.

An interesting point to note is that these dimensions closely align with the biblical description of the Ark—"300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high." After deep diving further, researchers extracted nearly 30 samples of rock and soil from the site. Analysis conducted at Istanbul Technical University revealed traces of clay-like materials, marine deposits, and fossilized remains of sea life, including mollusks. The dating of these materials places them between 3,500 and 5,000 years old, overlapping with the Chalcolithic period—an era that aligns with the timeline of the biblical flood as described in Genesis 6:14-16. Professor Dr. Faruk Kaya (lead researcher) shared, "According to the initial results, it’s believed there were human activities in this region since the Chalcolithic period…An essential outcome of the symposium is the decision to conduct more research in Cudi and Ararat, known as the Mesopotamian region," according to The Jerusalem Post.

This stunning research suggests that the area, now elevated and arid, was once deep down in the dark abyss of water, cementing the possibility of a catastrophic flood. The discovery has drawn applause and criticism in equal measure. Some scientists believe that the formation’s ship-like figure could be due to natural geological features rather than being the remnant of a wooden vessel. Many experts dismissed the theory, claiming that this particular formation was due to natural erosion and landslide debris. As if this was not enough, it is believed that the metamorphosis of wood to stone can take millions of years, making it next to impossible that a 5,000-year-old wooden structure could have undergone such a transformation, stated Daily Mail.

Researchers noted, "The evidence suggests that the story might have a basis in reality." Nonetheless, the experts are glimmering with hope regarding their investigation. They further shared, "Our studies show that this region harboured life in that period and that, at some point, it was covered by water, which reinforces the possibility that a catastrophic event of great magnitude occurred," stated The New York Post.