Durupınar Formation Near Mount Ararat Re-ignited Noah's Ark Discussions

The 163-meter Durupınar Formation near Mount Ararat has reignited the discussions about Noah's Ark. American Andrew Jones, founder of the non-profit organization Noah's Ark Scans, which carries out investigations hosted by Turkish experts here, opposes those who say, "There is no ship there, just a geological rock formation." Speaking to the TV program "Saturday in America", Jones said, "New evidence strengthens the claims that the region may contain the remains of Noah's Ark." The researcher said that the latest drilling works, soil samples and underground radar research in the Durupınar Formation challenge those who say "This is a natural structure". According to belief, all living things except those on Noah's Ark died in the huge flood disaster 4,500 years ago.

'We will get results this winter'

Stating that archeology progresses based on possibilities, Jones said: "We believe that when the soil analyzes we conduct with Sivas Cumhuriyet University are completed, we will receive the confirmation we expect about Noah's Ark in the Durupınar Formation this winter." Stating that they drilled at more than 12 points on the formation, the researcher said, "We did not find a solid bedrock layer as the critics claimed; on the contrary, we found a very rich black soil layer. The decay of Noah's Ark, described as a huge wooden ship in the sacred texts, creates such high organic matter. We will send the samples to Ankara University for organic content testing."