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Noah's Ark investigation intensifies with shock 'Great Flood' discovery in ancient mountains By STACY LIBERATORE, US SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDITOR

Published: 11:08 EDT, 27 April 2026 | Updated: 10:50 EDT, 8 May 2026

https://www.dailymail.com/sciencetech/article-15759147/noah-ark-investigation-turkey-discovery.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490

Nestled among the rugged peaks of Turkey is a strange rock formation that some researchers believe could mark the resting place of Noah's Ark.

The Bible describes the giant vessel as the ship that shielded humanity and animals from destruction during the Great Flood, which God is said to have sent to wipe out widespread human corruption and violence thousands of years ago.

Now, a team of American researchers claims to have identified marine fossils at the Durupınar Formation near Mount Ararat, findings they said suggested the region may once have been covered by vast floodwaters resembling those described in biblical accounts.

Andrew Jones, an independent researcher with Noah's Ark Scans who is investigating the mysterious mound, told the Daily Mail: 'From a researcher's perspective, these fossils provide a powerful consistency check for the biblical narrative.'

He added that traditional geology interprets the formations as remnants of an ancient sea that developed over millions of years and was later uplifted by tectonic forces, while creationist researchers view them as evidence of a massive, catastrophic flood.

'To us, finding well-preserved sea life at approximately 6,500 feet above current sea level aligns with the account of a global deluge that once covered these landmasses and later pushed up the mountain ranges we see today,' Jones said.

The team said their discoveries go beyond isolated shells, pointing instead to extensive layers of marine fossils high in the mountains, many of which appear to show signs of rapid burial rather than slow sediment buildup.

'Around the Durupınar Noah's Ark site specifically, these marine sediments are part of a complex mélange, a mixture of different rock types,' Jones said. 'The fact that the "boat" appears to sit within or upon these marine-derived materials suggests a dynamic sequence of events during the site's formation.'

Nestled among the rugged peaks of Turkey is a strange rock formation that some researchers believe could mark the resting place of Noah’s Ark + 12 View gallery Nestled among the rugged peaks of Turkey is a strange rock formation that some researchers believe could mark the resting place of Noah's Ark

Researchers investigating the site have found hundreds of marine fossils embedded in the rock + 12 View gallery Researchers investigating the site have found hundreds of marine fossils embedded in the rock

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Vrabel and Russini's affair scandal takes yet another new twist 2.6k viewing now Located about 18 miles south of Mount Ararat, Turkey's highest peak, the Durupınar Formation has been known to researchers for less than a century.

Local reports say heavy rains and earthquakes in May 1948 washed away surrounding mud, revealing the unusual formation, which was later spotted by a Kurdish shepherd.

The Bible states that Noah's Ark came to rest on the 'mountains of Ararat' after a flood lasting 150 days that destroyed life outside the vessel.

But claims that the Ark landed in the Mount Ararat region have long been debated among researchers, historians and scientists.

From as early as the fourth century, Christian tradition began identifying Mount Ararat as the ark's resting place. Josephus, a first-century Jewish historian, also wrote that remains of the ark were still visible in the mountains of Armenia, which shares a border with Turkey near the mountain.

But the formation's location in particular has fueled speculation for decades, particularly because some researchers believe its shape and dimensions resemble descriptions of the ark.

According to biblical measurements, the ark was said to be 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide and 30 cubits high - roughly 515 feet long, 86 feet wide and 52 feet tall - measurements researchers from Noah's Ark Scans said align with what they believe is buried below the surface.

'The recent Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) scans have moved us beyond simple "shape" observations,' Jones said, who has been investigating the formation since 2019.

'Unlike previous decades, where researchers relied on the surface "boat" outline and basic imaging, the latest data suggests previously undetected internal features beneath the formation.'

The team suggested the region may once have been covered by vast floodwaters resembling those described in biblical accounts + 12 View gallery The team suggested the region may once have been covered by vast floodwaters resembling those described in biblical accounts

The team said their discoveries go beyond isolated shells, pointing instead to extensive layers of marine fossils high in the mountains, many of which appear to show signs of rapid burial rather than slow sediment buildup + 12 View gallery The team said their discoveries go beyond isolated shells, pointing instead to extensive layers of marine fossils high in the mountains, many of which appear to show signs of rapid burial rather than slow sediment buildup

Many geologists argue that the Durupınar Formation is a naturally occurring geological structure, while others believe its shape points to something more unusual.

Biblical scholar Wes Huff has dismissed claims that the formation is the remains of Noah's Ark, writing on X: 'The boat-like physical formation isn't even an unusual feature on modern Ararat, and many of these almond-shaped convex structures can be found throughout the region.'

However, fellow biblical scholar Joel Richardson urged caution, writing on X: 'We cannot say it is legit or not legit until it has been properly examined. That would be the next step. This is how archeology works.'

Marine fossils have been discovered on mountain ranges around the world, including the Himalayas, Andes and Rocky Mountains, which scientists say were once covered by ancient seas before being pushed upward as continents collided and mountains formed.

However, researchers with Noah's Ark Scans believe the fossils found in the region may point to a different explanation.

'While we respect the traditional evolutionary timeline of the Tethys Sea, we believe the physical evidence, particularly the sheer volume and elevation of these fossils, points toward a much more recent and violent aqueous event that reshaped this entire region,' Jones said.

12 View gallery Located about 18 miles south of Mount Ararat, Turkey's highest peak, the Durupınar Formation has been known to researchers for less than a century

A team of American researchers working at the Durupınar Formation near Mount Ararat has uncovered evidence of hidden tunnels as described in the biblical account + 12 View gallery A team of American researchers working at the Durupınar Formation near Mount Ararat has uncovered evidence of hidden tunnels as described in the biblical account

The researchers added further studies using infrared thermography (IRT), a heat-sensing technology that can uncover hidden structures underground, have also suggested the presence of a ship-shaped hull buried deep in the soil + 12 View gallery The researchers added further studies using infrared thermography (IRT), a heat-sensing technology that can uncover hidden structures underground, have also suggested the presence of a ship-shaped hull buried deep in the soil

In 2024, Jones revealed that he and his team uncovered angular structures as deep as 20 feet beneath the surface, features that could represent rooms below a deck-like platform + 12 View gallery In 2024, Jones revealed that he and his team uncovered angular structures as deep as 20 feet beneath the surface, features that could represent rooms below a deck-like platform

'We agree with secular geologists on what happened: the ocean was once here and the mountains rose.

'We differ on the rate and the timing; we see a process that took months, not eons, according to Genesis 6-8.'

Genesis 6:8, which reads, 'But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord,' signifies that amid universal human wickedness, Noah received God's undeserved grace, offering hope and a new beginning. It highlights God's mercy in choosing to save a remnant, Noah and his family, to preserve humanity, rather than complete destruction.

Jones told the Daily Mail that he and his team recently uncovered a central corridor, along with side tunnels that go along the inside perimeter of the underground ship's shape.

'In addition to the tunnels, the GPR picked up a large central void. A possible central atrium room going down at least 42 feet below the surface.'

Soil testing in the area showed extremely high levels of potassium, consistent with massive amounts of decomposed lumber.

The soil is less alkaline, has more organic matter and contains more potassium, which is what would be expected from decaying wood, like an ancient wooden boat, which lowers pH and adds carbon and potassium, said Jones.

According to the Bible, the massive vessel saved humanity and every kind of animal from annihilation during a catastrophic flood more than 4,300 years ago + 12 View gallery According to the Bible, the massive vessel saved humanity and every kind of animal from annihilation during a catastrophic flood more than 4,300 years ago

'Tests show these soil differences (pH, organic matter and potassium) are real, with less than a five percent chance they're random, giving 95 percent confidence that something like a decayed wooden ship is causing them,' he added.

The researchers aren't yet declaring the formation to be Noah's Ark, but, Jones said, 'This is the best candidate.' The other leading possible spot is on top of Mount Ararat, though there hasn't been any evidence found.

'In the Biblical account, it doesn't say Noah's Ark landed on Mount Ararat, it says the mountains, plural, of Ararat,' Jones said.

'Back in those days, Ararat was an ancient kingdom. So it would be like saying today that Noah's Ark landed in the mountains of Colorado. It's referring to a region of mountains, not one specific peak, and our site fits within that location.'