Noah’s Ark ‘evidence’ may have been found where biblical vessel came to rest

An artist’s impression of what Noah’s Ark may have looked like (Picture: Noah’s Ark Scans/Cover Images) Researchers may have found physical evidence of Noah’s Ark. Charred woods has been recovered at the Durupınar Formation in eastern Turkey – an approximately 515ft-long, boat-shaped formation near the Mountains of Ararat. The site has long been believed to be the final resting place of the biblical vessel. Scientists say they have found chambers and corridors as well as the wood nearly 30ft underground. Laboratory tests are now underway to establish the age and origin of the material.The findings were discussed at the Noah’s Ark Symposium. Prof Dr Cenker Atila of Sivas Cumhuriyet University, the lead archaeological professor overseeing the officially authorised project, reviewed and confirmed preliminary results from advanced radar scans conducted by US scientist Dr Khosrow Bakhtar.The results have been described by the project team as a significant new development in the ongoing investigation. Drone footage of the Durupinar Formation in eastern Turkey (Picture: Noah’s Ark Scans/Cover Images) Dr Bakhtar, a veteran US defence scientist and inventor of the BakhtarRadar system used at the site, said the scans had detected organised patterns, chambers and corridors within the Durupınar Formation.He said the features were not geological in origin, explaining that the radar processing had been configured to mask natural geological signals.‘This is the most significant finding of 45 years of my career. It’s not geologic related, because we masked all the geologic features,’ Dr Bakhtar said.The Durupınar Formation has attracted interest for more than six decades because of its distinctive shape and location. Bakhtar radar scans reveal three layers (Picture: Noah’s Ark Scans/Cover Images) Some researchers and religious groups have suggested that it could be connected to the biblical account of Noah’s Ark, which, according to Genesis 8:4, came to rest upon the mountains of Ararat.However, the formation’s appearance and location do not, in themselves, establish that it is the biblical vessel.The 2026 investigation, conducted under the authority of Sivas Cumhuriyet University and with government permission, has combined radar surveys, mapping, soil sampling and core drilling.Speaking at the symposium, Prof Dr Atila said the radar investigation had identified a formation with three distinct levels beneath the surface.‘In our Holy Books, Noah’s Ark had three levels, in our radar studies, we also identified a formation with three levels’, Dr Cenker Atila told the media at the Noah’s Ark Symposium last week. Core drills at the Durupinar site (Picture: Noah’s Ark Scans/Cover Images) The project team considers the finding particularly noteworthy because the biblical description of the Ark also refers to three levels.In a further development, Prof Dr Atila announced that pieces of charred and burnt wood had been recovered from deep within the formation, at a depth of almost 30ft.The material has been submitted for radiocarbon (carbon-14) dating and identification of the tree species.Researchers have cautioned against drawing conclusions about its significance until the laboratory results have been completed and published.The team says the wood was recovered from deep within the formation, rather than from recent surface deposits or material transported from elsewhere by mudflows.Its charred condition has prompted further questions about its possible origin and age.The biblical account states that Noah was instructed to coat the Ark ‘within and without with pitch’ (Genesis 6:14). Natural pitch and tree resins contain flammable hydrocarbons, raising the possibility of several explanations for the condition of the recovered material. Dr Khosrow Bakhtar shows the analysis of the site (Picture: Noah’s Ark Scans/Cover Images) The wood could have been exposed to fire deliberately, or charred as a result of natural events such as lightning or volcanic activity in the region. These remain possibilities rather than established explanations.Charring can also slow the biological decomposition of wood, potentially allowing it to survive underground for extended periods. Andrew Jones, founder of Noah’s Ark Scans and vice-president of the project, stressed that the discovery needed to be treated with caution.‘It’s very exciting, but people need to understand that yes, it is possible that we have found the charred remains of Noah’s Ark, but it’s also possible that we have found the charred remains of a shepherd’s campfire that he unwittingly decided to start while using the ark for shelter centuries ago,’ he explained. ‘We won’t know the exact age of the wood until carbon-14 and other testing is complete.’Dr Atila has indicated that photographs of the recovered charred wood are expected to be released publicly in the near future.Meanwhile, researchers are continuing laboratory analysis of hundreds of soil and core samples. Further radar processing and technical reports are also expected over the coming months.The project team says establishing the age and identity of the recovered material will be essential before any firm conclusions can be drawn.The findings provide additional material for investigation at a site that has attracted the attention of scientists, historians and religious communities for decades. Arrow MORE: Your consciousness carries on after death, scientist claims Arrow MORE: We may have just prevented a new ice age – but it’s not a good thing Arrow MORE: Man who refused operation on religious grounds died days before rules were changed News Updates Stay on top of the headlines with daily email updates.