Archaeology & History

Recent findings boost hunt for Noah's Ark in eastern Turkey

By T.K. Randall
October 26, 2024

Image: Durupinar Formation
Credit: Zorka Sojka / CC BY-SA 4.0 (adapted) Whether or not you believe it ever existed at all, the final resting place of Noah's Ark - the biblical vessel that was said to have carried two of every animal to safety after a devastating flood swallowed the land - has remained a mystery since ancient times.

One site in particular - known as the Durupinar formation - is thought by some to be the petrified remains of the ark itself. Vaguely resembling the shape of a vessel, it is situated in Turkey approximately 3km north of the Iranian border and around 6,500ft above sea level.

What's more, its size seems to roughly match that of the ark which is described in the Bible as being "a length of three hundred cubits, a width of fifty cubits, and a height of thirty cubits."

While geologists generally argue that the site is a natural formation, since 2021 scientists from three universities in Turkey and the United States have been analyzing samples of the rocks and soil found at the site to determine if it really is home to Noah's iconic vessel.Their findings have suggested that the formation dates back between 3,500 and 5,000 years - making it a possible match for the age of the ark.

Evidence of a clay-like material, as well as marine materials, were also found - indicating that the site may have also once been submerged by the sea - just like in the story.

But is this really enough to indicate that the site is the resting place of Noah's Ark ?

Ultimately, it may be impossible to definitively prove this to be the case one way or the other.

Source: Jerusalem Post

Tags: Noah