Turkish-approved project brings modern scanning, drilling, and archaeological oversight to the Durupınar formation.
by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief
(Worthy News) – A comprehensive scientific investigation is underway at the Durupınar formation in eastern Turkey, a 515-foot-long site that some researchers believe could be connected to the Biblical account of Noah’s Ark.
The formation was identified in aerial reconnaissance photographs by Turkish Army Capt. İlhan Durupınar in 1959. Its striking boat-like outline and dimensions have kept it at the center of debate for more than six decades.
The 2026 project is directed by archaeologist Cenker Atila of Sivas Cumhuriyet University in cooperation with Noah’s Ark Scans. According to the research organization, the work has received official authorization from Turkish authorities.
Researchers are using precise mapping, ground-penetrating radar, electrical resistivity imaging, LiDAR, soil testing, and core drilling to examine what lies beneath the surface. The careful approach allows scientists to study underground layers before any possible excavation is considered.
Earlier surveys reportedly detected linear formations, right-angle features and chamber-like spaces at depths of roughly 30 feet. Soil testing also found nearly three times as much organic material inside the formation as outside it.
Those findings have not established that the site contains Noah’s Ark.
Researchers acknowledge that the formation could still have a natural geological explanation. The latest drilling and laboratory analysis are intended to test both possibilities with physical evidence.
For now, the drilling offers a rare chance to test competing explanations with physical evidence. Whether researchers uncover traces of an ancient vessel, confirm an unusual natural formation or find something altogether unexpected remains to be seen.
Today, Noah’s Ark Scans begins core drilling at the Durupinar boat-shaped formation, long studied as a possible Noah’s Ark site, under official Turkish permits.
Core samples will be taken and the GOPHER drone sent in later this week to examine the interior.
This is the first… pic.twitter.com/dCnJqeFe8o
— Noahs Ark Scans (@noahsarkscans) September 21, 2026
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