Scientists drill near site linked to Noah’s Ark
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An international team of scientists is collecting subsurface samples at the Durupınar formation in Turkey, a geological feature resembling a ship. Researchers from the Cumhuriyet University of Sivas, Turkey, are leading the project with participation from scientists and students from five countries.
The team is using drilling and ground-penetrating radar to study the formation’s composition, structure, and origin.
The Durupınar formation, located near Mount Ararat in eastern Turkey, first gained attention in 1959 when Turkish Captain İlhan Durupınar identified its ship-like shape from the air. Since then, people have connected the site to the biblical story of Noah’s Ark, noting its size and proximity to the traditionally-linked Mount Ararat. However, the scientists emphasize they are not trying to prove the site is the Ark, but rather to understand how the formation came to be.
The current project involves creating detailed maps and 3D models of the area, followed by dry drilling to extract core samples from beneath the surface. These samples will undergo laboratory analysis to reveal information about the materials present and the geological processes that shaped the land. Researchers plan to publish their findings in 2027 after completing the analysis, presenting the data at three international conferences and in a publication titled “Investigations of the Durupınar Formation 2026.”
