Excitement is mounting in the archaeological community following recent revelations at the 7th International Symposium on Mount Ararat and Noah's Ark, held in eastern Turkey.
A collaboration of experts from Istanbul Technical University, Agri Ibrahim Cecen University, and Andrews University in the United States has been working since 2021 under the banner of the Mount Ararat and Noah's Ark Research Team. The team has focused its efforts on the Durupinar formation, a 538-foot geological structure composed of limonite and located approximately 30 kilometers south of the summit of Mount Ararat, near the Turkey-Iran border in the Doğubayazıt district of Ağrı.
The Durupinar formation has long captivated researchers and explorers due to its ship-like shape and dimensions that mirror the biblical description of Noah's Ark. According to the Bible, the Ark's dimensions were "a length of three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits." The structure's measurements, approximately 150 meters in length, align with this account.
In a key phase of their project, the team collected nearly 30 samples of rock and soil from the site. These samples, sent to Istanbul Technical University for analysis, revealed traces of clay-like materials, marine deposits, and seafood remnants, including mollusks. Experts determined that the materials dated between 3500 and 5000 years old. This timeframe coincides with the Chalcolithic period, spanning from 5500 to 3000 BCE, which is associated with the era of the biblical flood as described in Genesis.
"According to the initial results, it's believed there were human activities in this region since the Chalcolithic period," said Prof. Dr. Faruk Kaya, Vice Rector of Agri Ibrahim Cecen University and a lead researcher. "An essential outcome of the symposium is the decision to conduct more research in Cudi and Ararat, known as the Mesopotamian region," he added.
The discovery of marine substances and shellfish in the samples suggests that the area was once submerged under water. These findings bolster theories that a catastrophic flood occurred in the region, aligning with the narrative of a universal flood found in various religious texts. "Our studies show that this region harbored 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," the researchers stated.
Mount Ararat, the highest peak in Turkey at 5,137 meters, was traditionally identified as the resting place of Noah's Ark. Its significance is noted in religious texts, including Genesis 8:4: "And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat." The mountain, an inactive volcano with a summit covered in perpetual snow, was a site of intrigue and pilgrimage for centuries.
The Durupinar formation itself was initially discovered by a Kurdish farmer in 1948 and brought to international attention in 1951 by Turkish Army Captain Ilhan Durupinar during a NATO mapping mission. Despite numerous expeditions and studies over the years, consensus on the site's significance remained elusive.
The recent analyses conducted by the research team reignited interest and debate. By employing technology and geological analysis techniques, the team aims to separate myth from reality. Their work focuses on examining the site's geological and archaeological significance without drawing premature conclusions.
The veracity of the tales surrounding Noah's Ark and the global flood remains a topic of debate among scientists and scholars. While some view the story as a foundational religious narrative, others consider it a myth or allegory.
"The evidence suggests that the story might have a basis in reality," noted researchers involved in the project.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.