Researchers Investigate Boat-Shaped Formation in Eastern Turkey
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Researchers Investigate Boat-Shaped Formation in Eastern Turkey
- An international team of scientists began a comprehensive study in June 2026 of the Durupinar formation, a boat-shaped geological feature in eastern Turkey, to determine if it could be the remains of Noah's Ark.
- The Durupinar formation, measuring approximately 157 meters (515 feet) in length, was first identified in 1959 by Turkish army captain İlhan Durupınar.
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A multi-national and multi-disciplinary team has initiated a significant scientific investigation into the Durupinar formation, a boat-shaped geological feature located in eastern Turkey near Mount Ararat. The project, which commenced in June 2026 and is scheduled to run until September 2026, aims to determine if the site contains any evidence linked to the biblical account of Noah’s Ark. Professor Cenker Atila of the Archaeology Department at Sivas Cumhuriyet University is coordinating the research.
The Durupinar formation first garnered attention in 1959 when Turkish army captain İlhan Durupınar discovered its distinctive boat-like shape in aerial photographs. Its dimensions, approximately 157 meters (515 feet) in length, have been noted to align with the 300 cubits described for Noah’s Ark in the Book of Genesis.
Researchers are employing advanced technologies, including underground imaging, digital mapping, soil analysis, and drilling. Early findings from ground-penetrating radar and other surveys have reportedly revealed unusual linear features, angular structures, and potential corridors beneath the formation, with some scans suggesting organized internal structures at depths of up to six meters (20 feet). Soil samples collected in 2024 reportedly showed higher concentrations of organic matter and potassium within the formation compared to the surrounding soil, which some researchers suggest could be consistent with a decayed wooden structure.
The current field campaign, supported by the U.S.-based Noah’s Ark Scans organization, involves about 20 scientists and students from five countries. The project has received official approval from Turkish authorities, marking it as the first permitted study of its kind at the site with archaeological and scientific oversight. While the research team believes their findings strengthen the case for the Durupinar formation being the ark, many geologists maintain that it is a natural geological formation resulting from folded rock, mudflow, and erosion. The complete findings from the 2026 investigation are expected to be compiled by May 2027 and will be presented through academic papers and a book.