Full Breakdown
Noah’s Ark Scans Faces Burglary Amid Fundraising Push for Turkish Expedition
By Drooid · · How we work
Burglary Allegations and Continuation of the Search
Supporter Lauren Witzke, a film producer linked to the American Christian group Noah’s Ark Scans, reported that founder Andrew Jones’s apartment was broken into while he was away. She said the intruders ransacked the residence between the early-morning hours, stole laptops, computers and memory cards, and left the place “upside down.” Jones confirmed the break-in, stating that devices were taken but that the research data had already been copied. He added that a friend reported the incident to local police and emphasized that the group’s Turkish partners had been cooperative and that laboratory work would continue through the winter.
Crowdfunding Campaign and Financial Targets
Following the alleged burglary, the group launched a campaign on the GiveSendGo platform. The page indicates that $104,000 has been raised toward a $600,000 goal to fund the excavation at the Durupinar Formation in eastern Turkey. Funds are earmarked for a drilling crew, specialized equipment, logistical support, and laboratory testing of any material recovered from the site. Witzke’s outreach urged supporters to “help us finish our mission.”
Scientific Opposition to Ark Identification
Geologists have repeatedly dismissed the Durupinar Formation as a natural rock structure. David Montgomery, a professor of geology at the University of Washington, noted that overwhelming geological evidence makes a literal global flood as described in Genesis implausible. A 1996 study by geologists Lorence Collins and former Ark advocate David Fasold concluded that the boat-shaped feature results from a doubly plunging syncline—folded rock layers later shaped by erosion—rather than a preserved vessel.
Official Reactions and Police Input
Turkish police were contacted for comment; they indicated that security cameras at the apartment block were not operational at the time of the break-in. No further details about suspects or investigations were provided.
Key Figures and Statistics
- Andrew Jones – Founder of Noah’s Ark Scans; victim of the alleged burglary.
- Lauren Witzke – Film producer and fundraiser for the expedition.
- David Montgomery – Geology professor at the University of Washington, critic of the Ark claim.
- Funding – $104,000 raised of a $600,000 target; goal includes drilling, equipment, logistics, and lab analysis.
The episode intertwines a claimed criminal act with an ongoing effort to locate a biblical artifact, while the scientific community continues to challenge the plausibility of the site representing Noah’s Ark.
