American researchers claimed to have discovered evidence of Noah's Ark on Mount Ararat in Turkey. Last September, the team collected soil samples from the alleged Noah's Ark site at the Durupınar formation and analyzed them throughout the winter.
According to chief archaeologist Andrew Jones of Noah's Ark Scans, the boat-shaped object contains 2.72 times more carbon than the surrounding area. "The rotting ancient wood inside the boat-shaped area is likely creating a localized soil microenvironment by lowering pH, increasing organic matter, and elevating potassium," said Jones.
"The scans show a 234-foot central corridor and angular structures—potentially rooms or corridors—extending up to 20 feet deep," the project noted. These findings suggest the presence of a large, possibly human-made structure beneath the surface, different from the surrounding mudflow.
"The presence of hallways and room-like structures points to a man-made origin for the boat shape," stated Jones. He added, "Our plan is to do a much larger soil test and take deeper samples from the ground."
"The soil composition is markedly different from the natural mudflow, indicating something extraordinary at this site," said William Crabtree, a member of the research team.
Although no excavations are planned this year, Jones told the outlet that site analysis will continue, with additional geophysical surveys and potential core drilling scheduled for next year.
The scans revealed that the structure measures 157 meters, matching the length described for Noah's Ark in biblical texts. "These angular shapes rarely occur in natural geological processes and suggest intentional design," the researchers stated.
The Durupınar formation, located 29 kilometers south of Mount Ararat—the highest peak in Turkey—has been speculated for decades as a possible resting place of Noah's Ark due to its boat-like silhouette. The site was discovered in 1959 by Turkish cartographer Captain İlhan Durupınar after severe rains and earthquakes exposed the formation.
Genesis 6:15 states, "And this is how you shall make it: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits," as reported by El Universo.
The narrative of Noah's Ark, told in the Bible's book of Genesis, describes how God directed Noah to build a vessel to preserve his family and pairs of every animal on Earth from a global flood sent to punish humanity for its wrongdoing. The story is also relevant to Islam, with both religions mentioning a great flood and a saving boat that would have settled in a mountainous area.
Despite these findings, some scientists believe that the Durupınar formation is a natural rock formation, possibly created by mud and erosion, according to Niezalezna and El Universo.
"We're not expecting something that's fully preserved. What we are detecting is the chemical imprint, pieces of wood, and the outline of a vessel in the ground," Jones said, according to Niezalezna.
Jones stated that the team plans to conduct more soil analyses and utilize non-destructive techniques to better understand what lies beneath the ground. "We are focused on more non-destructive techniques to understand what's below the ground and more soil analysis as well," he said, as reported by One America News Network.
The objective is to establish with certainty whether the detected structures at the Durupınar site are of artificial or natural origin. Researchers seek to gather more key data before implementing a comprehensive preservation plan for the Durupınar archaeological site.
The story of Noah's Ark has attracted the attention of researchers and adventurers for decades. During the 1970s and 1990s, interest in the Durupınar site increased, partly due to the efforts of American researcher Ron Wyatt, who conducted investigations and promoted the site after it was almost forgotten, according to El Universo.
The preparation of this article relied on a news-analysis system.