‘We’re all in the same boat,’ Ark researcher tells ‘Post’ at Turkey’s Durupinar site - exclusive
The radar team had come from the US, Atila said, but due to heavy rain and other constraints, only had seven days to work on the site. He noted that the team is expected to return in 2027.
The Jerusalem Post met the Durupinar formation last week, the boat-shaped mound in eastern Turkey that some claim is the resting place of Noah's Ark. This visit occurred after the completion of Noah's Ark Scans (NAS) fieldwork for the year, during Parashat Noah, the week when Jews worldwide read the flood story in synagogue.
The story of Noah is not exclusive to Judaism; it also appears in the Torah, Bible, and Quran. Team leader Cohen, an Israeli lawyer and researcher, explained that the project unites Jews, Christians, Muslims, and researchers globally in pursuit of a shared history. "If we are all descendants of Noah, then we really are all in the same boat," Cohen said.
In May 2026, the Turkish government granted NAS permission to begin invasive research at Durupinar, a significant milestone after years of surface analysis. Led by Andrew Jones, NAS researchers conducted core drilling between July and September, with samples sent to universities like Bar-Ilan for testing, with a final report expected in spring 2027.
Jones, fascinated by Durupinar for over 30 years, first heard about the formation in middle school. He visited the site three times between 1997 and 2000, a time when it appeared abandoned and uncared for. In 2013, Jones returned with a tour group and connected with Kurdish guides who suggested pursuing scientific research. The first scans in 2014 produced promising results, leading to further investigations using radar, lidar, and thermal cameras.
The Turkish government approved NAS's invasive study plan in July 2026, allowing core drilling up to 75 meters deep. Drilling occurred inside and outside the formation, reaching depths of approximately 20 meters. No solid rock layers were found, which Jones considers favorable for the hypothesis of a man-made structure.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
