Archaeologists investigating the Durupinar formation near Mount Ararat in eastern Turkey have unearthed fragments of charred wood buried deep beneath the surface.
The blackened specimens were recovered at a depth of about nine meters within the geological site, according to lead archaeologist Cenker Atila in an interview reported by Fox News Digital. Photographs of the extracted material show cracked, darkened pieces with visible wood grain and annual growth rings.
Specialists have sent the samples to four laboratories in different countries to undergo radiocarbon testing to determine their age. Scientists are also conducting botanical analysis on the specimens to identify the specific tree species.
Subsurface radar scans and chambers
Alongside the wood recovery, the field team has collected hundreds of drill cores and soil samples while conducting extensive ground-penetrating radar surveys across the 157-meter-long formation. Researcher Khosrov Bakhtar reported that the radar scans detected orderly subterranean structures that appear to resemble rooms and connecting corridors, though their true function and origin remain unconfirmed.
Atila pointed to several characteristics of the Durupinar site that he believes could align with historical accounts of Noah's Ark. In particular, the archaeologist noted that the formation matches the dimensions and outline recorded in sacred texts, and that radar imaging suggests the underground formation may contain three distinct levels.
Researchers also noted an elevated concentration of carbon inside the mound compared with the surrounding terrain, which Atila cited as another factor supporting further investigation.
Durupinar site history and laboratory tests
The Durupinar site is an unusual boat-shaped geological feature situated in the mountains of eastern Turkey, south of Mount Ararat. In biblical tradition, Mount Ararat is famously identified as the mountain range where Noah's Ark came to rest after the great deluge, prompting decades of geological expeditions, surveys, and debates over whether natural formations in the region could conceal ancient man-made remains.
Despite the initial findings, Atila cautioned that significant scientific questions remain unresolved. The archaeologist acknowledged that it is still unknown whether the subterranean anomalies are genuinely parts of a ship or whether the charred wood recovered from the site originated from an ancient vessel.
The research team emphasised that no definitive conclusions can be drawn about the discovery until the four international laboratories complete their radiocarbon dating and material tests on the recovered wood and core samples.
