Pottery fragments found at ‘Noah’s Ark’ resting place ‘could prove it was real’
CERAMIC fragments dating back to biblical times have been discovered in Türkiye, believed to be the resting place of Noah’s Ark.
This discovery sparked new excitement that the area was home to human settlement at the time of the Great Flood.
Professor Dr Faruk Kaya of Agri Ibrahim Cecen University said the curious artifacts were discovered during road construction near the Durupinar formation in Agri province.
This formation is a boat-shaped geological structure that has been considered Noah’s Ark for years.
Scholars said the presence of ceramic materials likely indicates human activity in the area during the Chalcolithic period.
This period – which falls approximately between 5,500 and 3,000 BC – is traditionally linked to the biblical figure of Naoh.
Learn more about archeology
STRIKED GOLD
Breakthrough with discovery of ring revealing secrets of ‘vanished’ kingdom in UK
WHAT FIND
The best archaeological discoveries of 2023: discovery of ancient Egypt’s ‘golden mummy’
“The ceramic fragments show that there was human activity in this area,” Professor Kaya explained.
The discovery has sparked new calls for the site to be officially protected, as visitors fear taking vital fragments home as souvenirs.
“This formation and its surroundings must be protected, and the removal of sones, rocks or similar materials must be prevented,” Professor Kaya added.
He warned that tourists had taken away materials, including stones with inscriptions, risking damage to what experts consider an important archaeological and religious heritage site.
The Durupinar Formation was first identified by Captain Ilhan Durupinar in September 1959.
The Turkish engineer spotted the structure while mapping eastern Anatolia from the air.
Since then, heavy rains and earthquakes have further exposed the formation’s outlines.
It attracted attention due to its boat-like shape and proximity to Mount Ararat.
Turkey’s highest peak has long been associated with the legendary Ark in Christian tradition.
In the book of Genesis, it is said that Noah’s ark came to rest on the “mountains of Ararat” after a flood submerged the Earth for 150 days.
Measurements in the Bible describe the Ark as measuring 300 cubits in length, 50 cubits in width, and 30 cubits in height.
Researchers suggest that these dimensions largely correspond to the size of the Durupinar site.
Scientific interest in the region has only grown in recent years.
The Mount Ararat and Noah’s Ark Research Team was officially established in 2022 between Agri Ibrahim Cecen University and Istanbul Technical University.
This collaboration brings together leading voices in the fields of geophysics, chemistry and geoarchaeology.
The researchers said the collected samples indicated that human life in the area was possible from the Chalcolithic period.
The pottery fragments discovered during recent work are considered a notable development.
Ceramics are widely considered by archaeologists to be one of the clearest indications of human settlement.
“There is no other structure of this type identified anywhere else in the world,” Professor Kaya said.
As part of broader preservation efforts, he suggested that a dedicated center be established near Mount Ararat, arguing that similar sites already exist in countries including the United States, the Netherlands and Hong Kong.
