New Claims of Noah’s Ark Discovery in Turkey Draw Skepticism From Geologists

TURKEY — A renewed claim about the possible discovery of Noah’s Ark on the slopes of Mount Ararat in eastern Turkey has stirred public interest, after a U.S.-based researcher said new subsurface findings point to what could be a man-made structure. Scientists, however, remain unconvinced, reiterating that the formation is most likely a natural geological feature.

Andrew Jones, a researcher affiliated with the group Noah’s Ark Scans, said recent surveys using ground-penetrating radar (GPR) revealed what he described as tunnel-like formations beneath the site. The structures, he said, appear to measure roughly two meters in width and extend to depths of up to four meters.

“We are observing patterns that do not look random or natural,” Mr. Jones said in an interview with Fox News. “The layout suggests something constructed rather than formed by geological processes.”

He added that soil samples taken from within the formation showed organic material levels significantly higher than those found in surrounding areas. Mr. Jones also pointed to the length of the formation, which he said closely aligns with the 300 cubits described in the Book of Genesis.

The site in question, known as the Durupınar formation, lies about 29 kilometers south of Mount Ararat’s summit, near Turkey’s border with Iran. First identified in 1959 through aerial photography by the Turkish Air Force, it has long been the subject of speculation among those seeking physical evidence of the biblical ark. Earlier efforts to study the site, including those by amateur researcher Ron Wyatt in the 1980s, produced similar claims but failed to gain scientific consensus.

Mr. Jones said his team is now exploring the possibility of deploying robotic equipment to further investigate the subsurface features and collect additional samples.

Geologists, however, have pushed back against the interpretation. Researchers including Lorence Collins of California State University argue that the Durupınar formation is a limonite syncline, a type of folded rock formation created by mudflows and tectonic activity over thousands of years.

They point to the presence of fossilized limestone layers cutting across the structure as evidence that it is part of a natural geological process rather than a buried vessel. Previous geophysical surveys conducted in the late 1980s also found no indication of artificial construction within the formation.

To date, no findings from the site have been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals confirming the presence of fossilized wood, artifacts, or other materials that would support the ark hypothesis.

Turkish authorities have not authorized large-scale excavations at the site, which is more commonly associated with religious tourism than formal archaeological research.

Scientists say that further investigation — conducted with transparent methods and under international scientific oversight — would be necessary to evaluate the claims more rigorously.

The story of Noah’s Ark holds deep significance in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions. Yet, despite decades of exploration and speculation, physical evidence of a global flood as described in sacred texts remains a subject of ongoing debate within the scientific community. []