Full Breakdown
New Drilling at Turkey’s Durupinar Formation Raises Questions About Its Origin
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Investigation
A multinational team led by American researcher Andrew Jones, deputy head of the project and founder of Noah’s Ark Scans, completed its first full field season at the Durupinar formation near Mount Ararat in eastern Turkey. Using deep-core drilling for the first time at the site, the team penetrated more than 20 meters and retrieved hundreds of soil samples from within the boat-shaped structure and surrounding areas. The samples are now being analyzed for organic content, mineral composition, and possible traces of decayed wood. Radar surveys conducted in August also identified linear anomalies that the researchers interpret as potential corridors or compartments beneath the formation.
Background & Context
The Durupinar formation, an approximately 538-foot-long geological feature, was first identified in 1959 by Turkish Army Captain Ilhan Durupinar while mapping eastern Anatolia. Its shape and proximity to Mount Ararat have linked it to the biblical account of Noah’s Ark for decades. Geologists such as David Fasold and Lorence Collins published a 1996 paper concluding the structure is a natural rock formation, a view that has persisted despite numerous expeditions.
Data & Statistics
- Length of formation: ~538 feet, matching the biblical dimensions.
- Soil sampling: >300 samples collected during the 2025-2026 field season; overall project gathered ~1,000 samples from various points.
- Depth reached: >20 meters in several drill holes, with no continuous bedrock encountered.
- Soil chemistry: 2024 surface samples showed three times more organic matter inside the formation than outside, along with higher potassium levels and distinct pH differences.
- Radar findings: Linear features and possible voids detected beneath the surface, described by the project’s radar specialist as “extraordinary.”
Official Statements & Responses
The Turkish government granted the project permission in 2026, allowing a university-backed team to conduct invasive investigations for the first time.
Criticism & Opposition
Geologists Fasold and Collins maintain the formation is natural, stating that “a natural rock formation near Dogubayazit, Turkey, has been misidentified as Noah’s Ark.” Christian creationist Ken Ham, while supportive of careful investigation, warned that premature claims could “risk credibility” and urged the scientific community to “examine the actual data.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Interpretations of the radar anomalies and soil chemistry differ. Some researchers describe the anomalies as possible “corridors” or “compartments” that could belong to a man-made object, while others argue they are natural geological irregularities. No peer-reviewed publication has yet confirmed the presence of decayed wood or other definitive archaeological material. The final report, expected later this year, will integrate radar data with laboratory analyses to address these uncertainties.
Verbatim Quotes
- “When we drilled into the formation this year for the first time, we did not encounter any solid block of rock, of limestone, [or] of any type of a rock," Jones said.” — Andrew Jones
- “For the first time, with government permission, a university has been able to go beneath the surface and see what is there,” — Andrew Jones
What’s Next
Laboratory testing of the collected soil samples is slated for the upcoming winter, focusing on detecting organic residues that could indicate decayed wood or human activity. The multidisciplinary team will combine these results with the radar data to produce a comprehensive report, after which further field work may be planned depending on the findings.