Researchers investigating the Durupınar site near Mount Ararat, Turkey, have completed their first full field season, drilling more than 60 feet beneath the formation and collecting hundreds of soil samples, supported by Ağrı İbrahim Çeçen University.
The team used deep-core drilling for the first time at the site, reaching depths of over 20 meters, and obtained samples from within the formation for laboratory analysis, according to Noah’s Ark Research Project vice president Andrew Jones.
Jones told Fox News Digital that the team aims to identify signs of human activity or decayed wood in the samples, which could support the hypothesis that the formation contains man-made remains. Earlier soil samples showed higher organic matter, potassium, and pH differences inside the site compared to outside, prompting deeper investigation.
Jones noted that drilling did not reveal solid rock beneath the formation, mainly encountering soil and occasional boulders, which challenges previous geological explanations that the formation is purely natural. The project also found ancient pottery near the site, tentatively dated from the Copper Age through the Iron Age, but not within the formation itself.
Nearby settlements have not been excavated, but Jones suggested their proximity could be significant if the site is linked to biblical narratives. He emphasized that the team has more laboratory work ahead before drawing conclusions and urged caution amid skepticism.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
