Researchers Probe Beneath Durupınar Site in Hunt for Noah's Ark Evidence

Researchers investigating the Durupınar site in Turkey, long speculated to be the resting place of Noah's Ark, have completed their first full field season of deep-core drilling. The Noah's Ark Research Project, supported by Ağrı İbrahim Çeçen University, collected over 300 soil samples from depths of up to 60 feet beneath and around the boat-shaped formation. These samples are now undergoing laboratory analysis.

The Durupınar site, identified in 1959, has been a subject of debate, with some researchers suggesting a link to the biblical Ark and geologists arguing it is a natural rock formation. Previous geological studies in 1996 concluded it was a natural structure. However, ongoing investigations, including the recent deep-core drilling, aim to gather further evidence.

"We're still studying our results, but we believe that this should give [skeptics] pause when they say this is a rock formation," said Andrew Jones, vice president of the Noah's Ark Research Project. The team's drilling efforts did not encounter a solid block of rock, but rather soil, with boulders found in some locations.

This drilling follows earlier 2024 sampling that indicated differences in soil composition between the inside and outside of the formation. These samples showed higher organic matter, potassium, and variations in pH levels within the site. The deeper drilling this season was intended to explore these anomalies further.

Researchers hope the laboratory analysis will detect signs of human activity or decayed wood, which could support the theory of a man-made structure beneath the formation. While ancient pottery fragments found near the site have been dated from the Chalcolithic to the Iron Age, Jones clarified they were discovered adjacent to, not within, the formation itself.

Jones, who identified himself as a Christian, urged caution against premature conclusions, emphasizing that much of the analysis is still pending. "We still have the lab work to do," he stated, looking forward to sharing the findings. The project's goal is to scientifically investigate the site and determine its true geological or archaeological nature.