Researchers investigating a ship-shaped formation in eastern Turkey say they have recovered what appears to be charred wood about 30 feet (nine meters) underground, renewing interest in a site long associated with Noah’s Ark, though no scientific evidence has linked it to the biblical vessel.
The fragments were recovered during drilling at the Durupınar Formation in Ağrı province, according to an announcement by Noah’s Ark Scans, an organization supporting the investigation.
A research team led by Cenker Atila, an archaeology professor at Sivas Cumhuriyet University, conducted drilling, radar surveys, and geological sampling during the 2026 research season. Scientists from several countries participated in the work, which ran from June through September. The investigation followed earlier discoveries of pottery fragments near the formation.
Wood samples sent for laboratory testing
Researchers sent the fragments for radiocarbon dating and tests to identify the tree species. The results could help establish the material’s age and origin, but would not necessarily prove it came from an ancient ship.
Researchers searching for Noah's Ark in Türkiye have discovered what appears to be charred wood 30 feet underground at a mysterious ship-shaped formation.
Radar scans also revealed unusual underground features, including three apparent layers. pic.twitter.com/q88YmW4ded
— Tom Marvolo Riddle (@tom_riddle2025) November 9, 2026
Andrew Jones, founder of Noah’s Ark Scans and vice president of the research project, acknowledged that the fragments could have another explanation. He suggested they might have come from a fire lit by a shepherd centuries later.
Radar scans reveal unusual underground features
Speaking at an international symposium in October, Atila said researchers had analyzed only about 20% of the radar data. The scans showed corridor-like features, areas resembling rooms and what appeared to be three separate underground layers. Similar underground features were reported during earlier radar investigations. Atila noted that biblical accounts describe Noah’s Ark as having three decks. However, natural rock formations and geological layers can produce similar patterns in radar images.
The Durupınar Formation has attracted attention since its ship-like outline was spotted in aerial photographs in 1959. Measuring about 515 feet (157 meters) long, the site has been examined through several geological investigations.
Previous claims of human-made walls, ship compartments, and petrified wood have not gained widespread scientific acceptance. A 1996 study by geologist Lorence Collins and Noah’s Ark researcher David Fasold concluded that natural geological processes formed the structure. The long-running debate over whether the formation could be Noah’s Ark continues as researchers examine hundreds of soil and core samples.
Further laboratory testing and analysis of the remaining radar data could provide new information about the site’s geological history and possible human activity. For now, its connection to Noah’s Ark remains unproven.
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