Noah's Ark Scans

Noah's Ark Scans: Guardians of the Ark

Investigating the Durupinar boat-shaped formation in eastern Turkey near Mount Ararat. A 157-meter-long ship structure that perfectly matches the biblical description of Noah's Ark found in Genesis 6. Join us as cutting-edge GPR, ERT, LiDAR, and core drilling reveal what lies beneath the surface.

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2019 drone photograph of the Durupınar boat-shaped formation
Drone photograph of the boat-shaped formation, 2020
Aerial drone view of the Durupinar Noah's ark formation
Top of the escarpment ridge above the Noah's ark site.
100 MHz Ground Penetrating Radar scan
2019 drone photograph of the Durupınar boat-shaped formation
Drone photograph of the boat-shaped formation, 2020
Aerial drone view of the Durupinar Noah's ark formation
Top of the escarpment ridge above the Noah's ark site.
100 MHz Ground Penetrating Radar scan
Multi-depth Ground Penetrating Radar visualization of subsurface anomalies
A closeup of the angular structures found by the 2019 GPR survey below surface on the downhill northwest side of the boat-shape
Series of angular structures discovered 7 meters below the surface from the 2019 GPR scans done for the Science Channel special.
1988 attempted core drilling locations on the Durupınar formation
The 7th Annual International Symposium on Mount Ararat and Noah's Ark at Ağrı İbrahim Çeçen University
Multi-depth Ground Penetrating Radar visualization of subsurface anomalies
A closeup of the angular structures found by the 2019 GPR survey below surface on the downhill northwest side of the boat-shape
Series of angular structures discovered 7 meters below the surface from the 2019 GPR scans done for the Science Channel special.
1988 attempted core drilling locations on the Durupınar formation
The 7th Annual International Symposium on Mount Ararat and Noah's Ark at Ağrı İbrahim Çeçen University
Captain İlhan Durupınar, who first identified the formation in 1959 survey photographs
The Noah's Ark Visitor Center overlooking the ark site
Wide panorama of the escarpment above the boat-formation. Some believe the first settlement after the flood was in this area.
2019 drone photograph of the Durupınar boat-shaped formation
Drone photograph of the boat-shaped formation, 2020
Captain İlhan Durupınar, who first identified the formation in 1959 survey photographs
The Noah's Ark Visitor Center overlooking the ark site
Wide panorama of the escarpment above the boat-formation. Some believe the first settlement after the flood was in this area.
2019 drone photograph of the Durupınar boat-shaped formation
Drone photograph of the boat-shaped formation, 2020
Aerial drone view of the Durupinar Noah's ark formation
Top of the escarpment ridge above the Noah's ark site.
100 MHz Ground Penetrating Radar scan
Multi-depth Ground Penetrating Radar visualization of subsurface anomalies
A closeup of the angular structures found by the 2019 GPR survey below surface on the downhill northwest side of the boat-shape
Aerial drone view of the Durupinar Noah's ark formation
Top of the escarpment ridge above the Noah's ark site.
100 MHz Ground Penetrating Radar scan
Multi-depth Ground Penetrating Radar visualization of subsurface anomalies
A closeup of the angular structures found by the 2019 GPR survey below surface on the downhill northwest side of the boat-shape

The Durupınar Noah's Ark Research Project

Building upon the foundational exploration and research conducted from 1960 until now, we are proud to announce the continuation of scientific investigation at the Durupınar formation. We are advancing the study of this unique site by bringing the most advanced technology in human history to the mountain.

For the first time in modern history, a dedicated international team is utilizing revolutionary non-destructive techniques and geophysical surveys that have never before been applied to the site. By integrating proprietary remote sensing, imaging, and analytical systems, we are able to map the internal structure of the formation while strictly protecting the site's integrity.

Learn More
Andrew Jones and Prof. Dr. Cenker Atila with Nuri Sarihan holding the official authorization document at the Durupınar site, with the Mount Ararat region behind them

Officially Authorized

An approved Scientific Research Plan for Geological and Geophysical Investigation

This project represents the first step in a comprehensive, multi-year plan and is officially approved by multiple government agencies. Directed by Prof. Dr. Cenker Atila from the Department of Archaeology at Sivas Cumhuriyet University, the expedition has secured official permits from the relevant Turkish government agencies. As outlined in our official authorizations, all work will be conducted responsibly — without physical intervention or damage to the natural ecosystem.

See the Project

Official Merch

Every Order
Funds the Search

Apparel and caps for everyone following the work at Durupınar. What you spend here goes back into the surveys, the equipment, and keeping the team in the field in eastern Turkey.

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From $29.99 · Typically ships in 1–3 business days

A supporter wearing the Noah's Ark Scans tee and cap on open, dry terrain

How We Work

2026 Research Operations

Our multi-phase operational schedule introduces unprecedented scientific rigor to the project — combining aerial mapping, deep subsurface scanning, core sampling, and data fusion, all without invasive excavation.

  1. 01

    Aerial Baseline Mapping

    Advanced drones equipped with LiDAR and thermal imaging create a high-density 3D digital twin of the topography and detect structural heat leaks.

  2. 02

    Deep Subsurface Scanning

    Next-generation Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) — including systems never used on the site, aerial platforms and the latest Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) run comprehensive 30-channel scans across the entire 160-meter formation.

  3. 03

    Sonic Core Drilling

    A new 75-100 meter dry sonic core drilling program recovers continuous, undisturbed stratigraphic cores for the first time, enabling direct geological sampling without invasive excavation.

  4. 04

    Deep Electrical Geophysics

    Deep Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) and Audio-Magnetotelluric (AMT) surveys map the deep roots of the formation down to over 300 meters.

  5. 05

    Void Exploration

    Specialized robotic cameras are inserted into subterranean voids and chambers to visually document internal structures.

  6. 06

    Data Fusion & Laboratory Analysis

    Core samples are processed and studied in the laboratories. The geological data along with isotopic geochronology, and LiDAR, GPR, and magnetometer and other geophysical data are fused into a single interactive 3D Master Model for peer-reviewed analysis.

See the Evidence

Beneath the Surface

Drag the sliders to compare. The same boat-shaped formation, revealed by sixty years of aerial photography and the latest Ground Penetrating Radar.

2020 drone photograph with Ground Penetrating Radar overlay
2020 drone photograph of the Durupınar formation
Surface — 2020
GPR — 7 m down

Right angles and linear structures detected 7 m below the surface.

2019 drone photograph of the Durupınar formation
1961 photograph of the Durupınar formation
1961
2019

From the original discovery photo to modern drone surveys, six decades apart.

Explore the full project

Noah's Ark Tours

Join Our
New Tours!

Patriarch-themed guided experiences to the Durupinar Noah's Ark boat formation. Walk the site, see the evidence firsthand.

Book Your TourLimited spots available

5+

Days

Tour options

515

Feet

Formation length

4

Tech

GPR/ERT/LiDAR

Scientific Research Team

  • Prof. Dr. Cenker Atila, B.A., M.A., Ph.D.

    Project Director and Head of Research; Archaeologist, Professor (Department of Archaeology, Sivas Cumhuriyet University)

    Prof. Dr. Cenker Atila is a prominent classical archaeologist and a full Professor in the Department of Archaeology at Sivas Cumhuriyet University. Holding a Ph.D. from Dokuz Eylül University, alongside a B.A. and M.A. in Classical Archaeology from Ege University, his expertise spans decades of rigorous field, academic, and curatorial work. His extensive practical background includes early career work as an archaeologist at the Bergama Archaeology Museum and serving as the Vice Director of the Phokaia Excavations. Dr. Atila is a recognized authority on ancient ceramics, glass artifacts, and the complex history of ancient cosmetics and pharmacology. He recently spearheaded a groundbreaking 2026 archaeometric study—published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports—that analyzed organic residues from a 2nd-century CE Roman glass unguentarium discovered in Pergamon. This pioneering research provided the world's first direct chemical proof of Greco-Roman fecal-based therapeutics masked with aromatic compounds like thyme, validating the classical medical texts of physicians such as Galen and Dioscorides. A highly prolific scholar and the General Editor for Myrina Publications, Dr. Atila has authored numerous articles and books covering ancient perfumes, Mediterranean weaponry, and Roman glass, as well as a historical novel, seamlessly bridging the gap between hard archaeological data and the vibrant human stories of antiquity.

  • Andrew Jones

    Project Vice-President; Software Developer and Researcher.

    Andrew Jones is one of the vice-presidents of the Noah's Ark Research Project and driving force behind the Durupınar research effort. As a software developer and independent researcher—and explicitly not an archaeologist or a historian—he brings a uniquely technical and analytical approach to the site's evaluation. Operating out of Dogubayazit, Turkiye near the Durupınar Noah's Ark Formation, Andrew coordinates the international team and spearheads the non-invasive technological surveys of the boat-shaped mound, directing the electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), LiDAR data collection, and the pivotal 2019 ground-penetrating radar (GPR) scans. He serves as the primary public voice for the research, bridging the gap between field data, ongoing collaborations with Turkish and foreign scientists, and international media outreach.

  • Khosrow Bakhtar, Ph.D.

    Mining Engineer — Geomechanics & Electromagnetics (University of Utah)

    Dr. Khosrow Bakhtar is the Managing Director and Chief Scientist of Bakhtar Research and Engineering and the visionary lead for the project's geophysical radar survey. With a Ph.D. in Mining Engineering from the University of Utah, Dr. Bakhtar has spent over 40 years managing highly complex projects specializing in the detection of deep underground cavities and clandestine tunnels. He is the inventor of the Forced-Resonance Imaging (FRI) approach, a low-power electromagnetic remote sensing technology that he now deploys to penetrate and map the subsurface mysteries of the Durupınar site.

Meet the Americans behind the Noah’s Ark Scans team

Andrew Jones

Andrew Jones

Founder

Andrew Jones is an American researcher and founder of Noah's Ark Scans who has spent nearly three decades investigating the Durupınar site in eastern Turkey. His interest began with a 1997 visit, followed by expeditions in 2000 and extensive fieldwork from 2013 onward. Since then, he has promoted scientific research and international awareness of this heavily debated archaeological location.

Lauren Witzke

Lauren Witzke

Director of Marketing and Fundraising

Lauren Witzke is a Christian activist, film producer, and media strategist. She gained global attention in 2022 with her debut film Died Suddenly. Driven by a deep commitment to the Gospel, Lauren now focuses on fundraising and advertising, helping Christian organizations secure funding and connecting them with aligned advertisers and influencers.

Edward Szall

Edward Szall

Head of Production

Investigative journalist, Host of 'The Agenda' on @DiedSuddenly_, CEO of TLM Global Productions, which was behind the global sensation documentary Died Suddenly and several national TV shows. Former Tank Commander in the U.S. Army, and White House correspondent for TruNews between 2016-2021.

Kezia McGarvie

Kezia McGarvie

Social Media Manager

Kezia is an Australian writer and content creator with a passion for ancient history, biblical archaeology, and the stories that have shaped civilizations for thousands of years. Having grown up in East Africa, where her parents served as missionaries, she developed an early fascination with different cultures, traditions, and the ways history is preserved through storytelling. Over the years, she has appeared on a number of programs discussing cultural and historical topics. Through her work with Noah's Ark Scans, she helps communicate the latest discoveries, research, and investigations surrounding one of history's greatest mysteries: Noah's Ark.

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