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.
Dr. Evrensel Barış Berkant, Ph.D.
Project Vice-President, Archaeologist (Institute of Social Sciences, Department of Archaeology, Dokuz Eylül University)
Dr. Evrensel Barış Berkant is a multifaceted archaeologist and researcher with a primary expertise in Prehistory and the Paleolithic (Stone Age) eras. He is an expert in ancient history, his 2020 doctoral thesis explored the migrations of archaic Altai peoples from Eastern Siberia during the Upper Paleolithic Age, utilizing both genetic and archaeological research. His published academic work heavily features the Paleolithic period, including in-depth studies on symbolic behaviors and portable art in Siberia, as well as human species interactions in the Denisova Cave in the Altai Mountains. Beyond his prehistory focus, Dr. Berkant also contributes to classical archaeology, having co-authored research on the ancient city of Prusias Ad Hypium (Konuralp) in Düzce, Turkey. To top off his diverse academic skill set, Dr. Berkant is also a creative professional who has been working as a cartoonist and illustrator for over 20 years.
William "Bill" Linklater Crabtree, B.Ag.Sci., M.Sci., Cert IV Training
Soil Scientist & Agronomist, R&D with 4 FARMERS AUSTRALIA, Chairman of Green Blueprint (Murdoch University)
Known globally in agricultural circles as "No-Till Bill," William Crabtree holds a master's degree from the University of Western Australia and is a leading expert in agronomy and dryland soil science. His profound understanding of soil behavior is central to the project's comparative soil analysis. By conducting systematic sampling inside and outside the boat-shaped formation, Bill's expertise is instrumental in verifying chemical anomalies, such as validating the presence of 3x more organic matter within the structure, providing a primary line of evidence for the project.
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.
Robert Sauer, MSc
Geologist (Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil)
Robert Sauer is the team's dynamic field geologist, holding a master’s degree in geology from the Federal University of Santa Catarina. His research spans sedimentary stratigraphy and planetary geology, including pioneering national-level studies that map megaflooding, impact craters, and drainage channels on both Mars and Earth. On the Durupınar team, Robert applies his rigorous background in geodiversity and stratigraphy to assess the formation processes of the site, providing the crucial on-the-ground geological
Matúš Barbuščák, MA
Archaeologist (Classical) (Trnava University, Slovakia)
Matúš Barbuščák brings a wealth of international field experience to the team, holding a master's degree in classical archaeology from Trnava University. While his academic background touches on Roman architecture, his immense value to the Durupınar project lies in his Middle Eastern excavation experience, including fieldwork at the Iron Age Urartian citadel of Odzaberd in Armenia and Bronze Age sites at Tel Lachish in Israel. A certified drone operator and expert in geographic information systems (GIS), Matúš fuses traditional archaeological methodology with modern spatial analysis and drone photogrammetry to comprehensively document the site.
Logan A. Hunt, MA
Archaeologist (Near Eastern Cultures) (Tel Aviv University)
Logan Hunt holds a master's degree in the History and Archaeology of Near Eastern Cultures from Tel Aviv University, equipping him with the precise regional and historical specialty required for the Durupınar site. His extensive field background includes excavations of Bronze and Iron Age settlements at Megiddo and the Central Timna Valley. Based in Oregon, Logan provides critical archaeological assessments, helping to place the formation and the team's findings within the broader tapestry of ancient Near Eastern material culture and history.
Meredith Thomas "Tommy" Colie Jr., Ph.D.
Professor of Religion & Theology at Wayne Community College
Dr. Tommy Colie Jr. is a professor of religion at Wayne Community College, holding a Doctorate in Theology from Potters House Seminary. He provides the essential biblical and theological context for the Durupınar project, anchoring the team's geological and archaeological findings to the historical and textual traditions of Genesis. Far from an armchair academic, Dr. Colie is an avid adventurer whose extracurricular passions include skydiving, scuba diving, rock climbing, and field archaeology, bringing both scholarly rigor and dynamic energy to the team.
YouTube
Hi-tech radar finds rooms on Noah’s ark?! YOU can help uncover more!
The Discovery of Noah’s Ark — Ron Wyatt’s Story
Noah’s Ark Visitor Center Grand Opening!