A team of researchers from the United States has detected underground structures in eastern Turkey, hinting that the remains of Noah’s Ark may be buried there.
The formation, located near Mount Ararat – a site long linked to the biblical flood story – has sparked new interest following radar scans and soil tests at the Durupınar site.
The site was first spotted in 1959 by Turkish cartographer İlhan Durupınar after aerial photos taken during a post-earthquake survey revealed a boat-shaped outline. Since then, the area has been the subject of both religious curiosity and scientific debate.
Researchers from the California-based group Noah’s Ark Scan have recently begun working with Turkish universities to study the formation using ground-penetrating radar, drilling tools, and soil testing – all without damaging the site.
According to team leader Andrew Jones, scans have revealed long, straight shapes and sharp corners beneath the surface. The underground structure includes what appears to be a 13-meter tunnel and three distinct layers, which some researchers say could resemble the decks of a large vessel.
“We have detected some interesting things,” Jones said. “Are we really facing something man-made, or is it an extraordinary natural formation? We need more data to understand this.”
So far, the team has collected soil samples from 22 different locations. William Crabtree, a soil scientist involved in the project, said the samples from within the formation showed higher levels of organic matter than the surrounding soil, about twice as much.
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American researchers claim to have found the possible remains of Noah’s Ark. The site is roughly 18 miles south of Mount Ararat, which the Bible describes as the boat’s final resting place. The exact spot is the Durupinar site, a 538-foot-long boat-shaped mound — with the… pic.twitter.com/4c8YZn4ZJm
— Toria Brooke (@realtoriabrooke) May 14, 2025
“If you know soil science—as I am a soil scientist—you will understand that potassium levels, organic matter, and pH can all be affected by the decomposition of organic materials,” Crabtree said.
In addition to the soil findings, the team noted that plants growing directly above the formation appear to be a different color than those nearby. This variation, Jones explained, could suggest the ground below has a different base, possibly due to buried structures.
The formation measures about 157 meters in length, 26 meters in width, and 16 meters in height – dimensions that closely match the Ark’s description in biblical texts.
Nezih Başgelen, director of the Cultural and Natural Heritage Monitoring Platform, told National Geographic Historia that radar scans align with these measurements.
Despite the renewed interest, many scientists remain cautious. Geologists and archaeologists have long argued that the formation is a natural feature created by erosion and shifts in the Earth’s crust over time. They say the boat-like shape, while striking, does not prove human construction.
New evidence uncovered at alleged Noah’s Ark location. pic.twitter.com/0rlyCQp587
— Daily Mail (@DailyMail) May 14, 2025
Jones and his team acknowledge the debate and say they aim to proceed carefully. A controlled excavation is being planned, but only after additional studies and safety measures are in place.
Harsh winters and the area’s shifting ground pose risks, making preservation a top priority. “Protecting the site is our top priority,” Jones said.
As the team prepares for deeper exploration for Noah’s ark, the Durupınar site once again sits at the center of a decades-long question: Is it a natural wonder, or the remains of one of history’s most enduring legends?
