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New scans reveal findings at site some believe to be remains of 'Noah’s Ark'
New scans and soil analysis have revealed a series of intriguing findings at a mysterious boat-shaped formation in Turkey that researchers believe could be linked to the biblical story of Noah's Ark.
The Durupinar formation, located near Mount Ararat in eastern Turkey, has been at the center of speculation for decades, with some researchers claiming it could point towards the remains of the enormous vessel described in the Old Testament.
Noah's Ark Scans reveals major update
Now, the team behind the Noah's Ark Scans project has published an update detailing what it says are some of the most significant findings from years of research at the site.
The group claims the formation measures around 85 feet wide and 515 feet long, dimensions it says correspond closely with the measurements of Noah's Ark described in Genesis.
It also claims that soil testing has uncovered unusually high levels of organic material and potassium inside the formation.
According to the researchers, soil samples contained three times more organic matter and 38 percent more potassium than samples taken from the surrounding area.
The team says this could be consistent with the presence of decaying organic material such as wood, but the findings have not established that the formation is Noah's Ark, and mainstream geological research has previously concluded that the structure is a natural formation.
The Noah's Ark Scans team says earlier electrical resistivity tomography scans identified what appear to be a series of organized spaces beneath the formation, including possible corridors and chambers.
It has also claimed that ground-penetrating radar scans detected a boat-like structure beneath the surface.
According to the project's latest update, no bedrock was detected beneath the formation during preliminary GPR and BakhtarRadar scans, which the team says challenges the theory that the shape is simply a large rock covered by mudflow.
The researchers further claim that preliminary BakhtarRadar results revealed 'layers' and 'organized patterns' rather than obvious geological features.
The team's official Instagram account said the latest research represented the culmination of decades of investigations at the site.
"Decades of studies, opinions, conflicting reports, and evidence all lead to this moment," the post stated.
Noah's Ark Scans findings so far
Among the findings highlighted by the team were 26 large stones discovered in the surrounding area, with researchers suggesting these could be 'drogue stones' or ancient sea anchors that may have been used by ships in rough waters.
The area has also reportedly produced marine fossils, seashells and sand dollars, with the team pointing to some shells that it says have not yet fully fossilised.
One of the most anticipated developments is the decision to drill into the formation, with the project's team discussing using narrow core drills to investigate the mysterious underground structures, with plans to send an underground robot into areas inaccessible to humans.
The expedition does include academic specialists, including Project Director Dr Cenker Atila from Turkey's Sivas Cumhuriyet University, alongside researchers working in archaeology and geology.
Researchers have investigated the site repeatedly ever since they found it in 1959, with some even excavating sections of it by using dynamite, although confirmed archaeological evidence of a ship was uncovered during those earlier investigations.