Noah’s Ark? Researchers claim radar scan reveals 'man-made' structure at Turkey site

A new radar survey of Turkey’s controversial Durupinar Formation by Noah’s Ark Scans (NAS) has identified what the organization claims could be a man-made structure buried beneath the site, renewing the long-running debate over whether the formation could be connected to the biblical Noah’s Ark.

“Dr. Khosrow Bakhtar’s preliminary report CONFIRMS that the Durupinar Formation is NOT geological, and that an ‘extraordinary’ man-made structure lies beneath the surface,” NAS wrote in a Wednesday post to social media.

The findings have not yet been independently verified or peer-reviewed.

Discovered first by a Kurdish shepherd and then rediscovered by Turkish Army Captain Ilhan Durupinar in 1959, the site became associated with the biblical ark due to its unique shape and proximity to Mount Ararat.

Since the 1960s, researchers have attempted to prove the theory of the site’s biblical origin to no avail. While the site’s length has been measured to be nearly exact to the size described in the Tanach, no other definitive archaeological or scientific evidence has been found at the site.

“A natural rock formation near Dogubayazit, Turkey, has been misidentified as Noah's Ark,” wrote American salvage expert David Fasold and geologist Lorence Collins in a 1990s paper on the topic. “Microscopic studies of a supposed iron bracket show that it is derived from weathered volcanic minerals.”

Turkish government approves deeper investigation of Durupinar site

But in 2026, the Turkish government gave NAS permission to begin more invasive and comprehensive geological and archaeological excavations at the Durupinar formation. 

The preliminary findings come from this new investigation, which used BakhtarRadar, a subsurface imaging system developed by engineer Dr. Khosrow Bakhtar.

According to NAS, the survey detected linear features, angular intersections, layered structures and possible voids beneath the formation. Researchers interpret these features as possible corridors, compartments, and multiple internal levels, rather than geological abnormalities.

However, as the findings are preliminary, they have yet to be peer-reviewed.

As part of the 2026 investigation, NAS  began drilling into the formation in order to extract samples from the soil to test for organic material, such as wood, that could serve as a jumping off point for further research.

“This is the most significant finding for 40 years or 45 years of my career. I have never seen this kind of anomalies before. I have never in my life,” said Bakhtar in a video shared on NAS’ social media.

“If these anomalies were not important, we would have seen them at all, but the fact that they showed so clearly indicates that they come from something. I am 100% sure that they come from the same original object. What that original object was, a ship or a spacecraft or what, I do not know.”

Noah's Ark Scan begins drilling into formation

Earlier this week, NAS shared footage taken by a “gopher” robot sent down into the carefully drilled hole in order to attempt to map the abnormalities within.

According to NAS, it hit no rock or bedrock.

Additionally, soil samples from the formation’s exposed sides and rims were taken by researchers and are undergoing laboratory analysis to check for remnants of petrified wood or anything man-made.

“As we entered the boat, we identified a very strong interface, which is a very dark line going all the way down,” Bakhtar said. “If you look at the strength of a signature, it does not matter what depth you are looking at. They all have the same strength, and we can quantify that.”

“Repeated anomalies that when you connect them, they form corridors. Because of that, I think all the anomalies are related to one particular object.”

However, until that evidence is available and independently evaluated, the Durupinar Formation remains neither a confirmed archaeological vessel nor a proven location of Noah’s Ark.