An Officially Approved Research Project
A geological study of the Durupınar boat-shaped formation near Mount Ararat, carried out under official authorization from the Republic of Türkiye, in cooperation with Noah's Ark Scans.
Project Mandate
In 2026, a full geological research project was initiated at the Noah's Ark formation in the Doğubayazıt District of Ağrı Province, Türkiye. It is directed by Prof. Dr. Cenker Atila of the Department of Archaeology at Sivas Cumhuriyet University, in cooperation with Noah's Ark Scans, and has received official approval from the Erzurum Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change. It marks a milestone after decades of patient, non-invasive study.
The formation has drawn attention since 1959, when Captain İlhan Durupınar identified the 157-metre (515-foot) boat-shaped structure in aerial reconnaissance photographs of eastern Turkey. Referenced in Genesis 8:4 and the Qur'an 11:44 and known locally as Al-Judi, the site has been studied by researchers for decades. This project continues that work under a formal, approved research plan.
Approach & Ethics
Non-Invasive First
Geophysical survey and core drilling lead the work. GPR, ERT and LiDAR map the subsurface so the formation can be studied without disturbing it.
An Approved Plan
The work proceeds under formal authorization from the Republic of Türkiye and an approved research plan, directed by an academic institution, Sivas Cumhuriyet University.
Care for the Site
Findings are documented and open to scientific scrutiny. Site protection guides every decision made in the field.
What This Project Is and Is Not
- A geological survey under official authorization
- Academically directed, in cooperation with Noah's Ark Scans
- Non-invasive: mapping the subsurface without disturbing it
- A long-term, evidence-first effort
- A treasure hunt
- A claim of proof; the data is suggestive, not conclusive
- An unregulated or amateur operation
- A rush to conclusions
Directed by Prof. Dr. Cenker Atila (Department of Archaeology, Sivas Cumhuriyet University) in cooperation with Noah's Ark Scans, an international research and educational organization that has supported scientific investigation and documentation at the formation for many years.