Noah's Ark Scans
The snow-dusted foothills of Mount Ararat in spring
Back to Home

Research Papers & Reports

Published studies on the Durupınar formation and Mount Ararat region — including pro-Ark research, skeptical geological interpretations, and symposium proceedings.

Geophysical Surveys & Field Reports

Subsurface imaging and direct field investigations of the Durupınar formation — Ground Penetrating Radar, Electrical Resistivity Tomography, LiDAR, and core drilling.

First page of ToPa 3D Thermal Survey Report
2019Pro-Ark research

ToPa 3D Thermal Survey Report

ToPa 3D / Bigman Geophysical

Thermal imaging survey of the Durupınar formation, examining surface temperature anomalies that may correlate with subsurface voids or differing material density.

View PDF(717 KB)
First page of Noah's Ark / Nuh'un Gemi (v2)
2019Pro-Ark researchTurkish + English

Noah's Ark / Nuh'un Gemi (v2)

ToPa 3D

Full ToPa 3D 2019 GPR / radar survey report of the Durupınar formation, in Turkish with embedded English summaries. Notes linear subsurface structures and right angles down to ~7 meters.

View PDF(19.1 MB)
First page of Bayraktutan & Baumgardner Report
1987Pro-Ark research

Bayraktutan & Baumgardner Report

Salih Bayraktutan, John Baumgardner

Geological mapping and preliminary analysis of the Durupınar formation by Atatürk University and Los Alamos National Laboratory researchers, preceding the 1988 core drilling campaign.

View PDF(5.3 MB)
First page of Durupınar Core Drilling Locations and Results
1988Pro-Ark research

Durupınar Core Drilling Locations and Results

Bayraktutan, Baumgardner et al.

Documentation of the four 3½-inch core holes drilled between July 28 – August 7, 1988, with sample analysis and stratigraphic interpretation.

View PDF(4.5 MB)
First page of Integration of Ground-Penetrating Radar, LiDAR, and Empirical Field Studies — A Multifaceted Analysis of Subsurface Structures near Mt. Ararat
2023Pro-Ark researchEnglish + Turkish

Integration of Ground-Penetrating Radar, LiDAR, and Empirical Field Studies — A Multifaceted Analysis of Subsurface Structures near Mt. Ararat

Andrew Jones

Synthesis paper combining the 2019–2023 GPR campaigns, LiDAR scans, and surface mapping into a unified subsurface model of the formation. Presented at the 7th International Noah's Ark Symposium.

View PDF(1.8 MB)
First page of Technology & the Search for Noah's Ark
2021Pro-Ark research

Technology & the Search for Noah's Ark

Andrew Jones

Overview of the technologies — GPR, ERT, LiDAR, drone photogrammetry, and soil chemistry — being applied to the Durupınar site. Presented at the 6th International Symposium.

View PDF(102 KB)

Border Inscription Investigations

Field research on the Turkish-Iranian border markers (64, 65, 66) and their inscriptions, building on Ron Wyatt's 1984 expedition.

First page of The Quest for Ancient Inscriptions: A Challenging Exploration of the Turkish-Iranian Border in Search of Noah's Ark Evidences
2023Pro-Ark research

The Quest for Ancient Inscriptions: A Challenging Exploration of the Turkish-Iranian Border in Search of Noah's Ark Evidences

Andrew Jones

Book-length report on the 2014, 2019, and 2021 expeditions to the Turkish-Iranian border to re-photograph the Wyatt 1984 inscriptions on border markers 64–66, documenting how cement repairs since 2019 have obscured original stonework.

View PDF(2.5 MB)

International Noah's Ark Symposium Proceedings

Collected papers and abstracts from the International Mount Ararat & Noah's Ark Symposia (Ağrı / Ishak Pasha University).

First page of 4th Ağrı Dağı ve Nuh'un Gemisi Sempozyumu
2017Turkish + English abstracts

4th Ağrı Dağı ve Nuh'un Gemisi Sempozyumu

Ağrı İbrahim Çeçen University (eds.)

Full proceedings of the 4th International Mount Ararat & Noah's Ark Symposium.

View PDF(10.1 MB)
First page of 5th Ağrı Dağı ve Nuh'un Gemisi Sempozyumu
2019Turkish + English abstracts

5th Ağrı Dağı ve Nuh'un Gemisi Sempozyumu

Ağrı İbrahim Çeçen University (eds.)

Full proceedings of the 5th International Mount Ararat & Noah's Ark Symposium, including the famous 1961 Ara Güler photograph of the formation.

View PDF(25.2 MB)
First page of 6th Ağrı Dağı ve Nuh'un Gemisi Sempozyumu — Abstract Book
2021Turkish + English abstracts

6th Ağrı Dağı ve Nuh'un Gemisi Sempozyumu — Abstract Book

Ağrı İbrahim Çeçen University (eds.)

Abstract book of the 6th International Mount Ararat & Noah's Ark Symposium.

View PDF(2.5 MB)
First page of 7th International Noah's Ark Symposium — Table of Contents
2023

7th International Noah's Ark Symposium — Table of Contents

Şırnak University (eds.)

Table of contents listing all papers presented at the 7th International Mount Ararat & Noah's Ark Symposium.

View PDF(102 KB)
First page of 7th International Noah's Ark Symposium — Abstract Book
2023Turkish + English

7th International Noah's Ark Symposium — Abstract Book

Şırnak University (eds.)

Full abstract book from the 7th International Mount Ararat & Noah's Ark Symposium, hosted by Şırnak University.

View PDF(1.7 MB)

Regional Geology & Differing Views

Geological studies of the Doğubayazıt-Telçeker landslide region, including papers that interpret the formation as a natural geomorphological feature.

First page of Bogus "Noah's Ark" from Turkey Exposed as a Common Geologic Structure
1996Skeptical / alternative interpretation

Bogus "Noah's Ark" from Turkey Exposed as a Common Geologic Structure

Lorence G. Collins, David F. Fasold

The most-cited skeptical paper, arguing the Durupınar formation is a natural geological structure. Notable for being co-authored by Fasold, who had earlier promoted the formation as Noah's Ark.

View PDF(4.2 MB)
First page of A supposed cast of Noah's ark in eastern Turkey
2011Skeptical / alternative interpretation

A supposed cast of Noah's ark in eastern Turkey

Lorence G. Collins

Follow-up paper from Collins arguing the formation is a doubly-plunging syncline of natural origin.

View PDF(2.1 MB)
First page of Noah's Ark near Doğubayazıt, Turkey?
2016Skeptical / alternative interpretation

Noah's Ark near Doğubayazıt, Turkey?

Lorence G. Collins

Updated geological assessment of the Durupınar formation by Collins.

View PDF(1.0 MB)
First page of Noah's Ark — its relationship to the Telçeker earthflow, Mount Ararat, Eastern Turkey
2007Skeptical / alternative interpretation

Noah's Ark — its relationship to the Telçeker earthflow, Mount Ararat, Eastern Turkey

Murat Avcı

Paper proposing that the Durupınar formation was created by the Telçeker earthflow, a regional landslide event.

View PDF(205 KB)
First page of Telçeker Earthflow — Source Paper (Turkish)
2007Skeptical / alternative interpretationTurkish

Telçeker Earthflow — Source Paper (Turkish)

Murat Avcı

Original Turkish-language version of the Telçeker earthflow study with full geological analysis.

View PDF(1.1 MB)
First page of Nuh'un Gemisi: Heyelan Etkisiyle Oluşmuş Jeolojik Bir Yapı (English)
2025Skeptical / alternative interpretationEnglish (translated)

Nuh'un Gemisi: Heyelan Etkisiyle Oluşmuş Jeolojik Bir Yapı (English)

Eşref Atabey

Recent (June 2025) paper interpreting the Durupınar formation as a syncline shaped by landslide processes. English translation.

View PDF(2.1 MB)
First page of Nuh'un Gemisi: Heyelan Etkisiyle Oluşmuş Jeolojik Bir Yapı
2025Skeptical / alternative interpretationTurkish

Nuh'un Gemisi: Heyelan Etkisiyle Oluşmuş Jeolojik Bir Yapı

Eşref Atabey

Original Turkish version of Atabey's 2025 syncline / landslide interpretation paper.

View PDF(5.6 MB)
First page of Doğubayazıt-Telçeker Landslide Study — Geology & Geomorphology Report
1986Turkish

Doğubayazıt-Telçeker Landslide Study — Geology & Geomorphology Report

Turkish General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration (MTA)

December 1986 government geological mapping of the Telçeker landslide region surrounding the Durupınar formation.

View PDF(4.8 MB)
First page of Doğubayazıt-Telçeker Landslide Study — Geophysics Report
1986Turkish

Doğubayazıt-Telçeker Landslide Study — Geophysics Report

Turkish General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration (MTA)

Companion December 1986 geophysics report on the Telçeker landslide region.

View PDF(4.2 MB)
First page of Is Noah's Ark on Mt. Ararat? — Geomorphological Development on the Doğubayazıt-Telçeker Landslide
1986

Is Noah's Ark on Mt. Ararat? — Geomorphological Development on the Doğubayazıt-Telçeker Landslide

MTA

1986 study analyzing whether the formation could be a feature of the regional landslide system.

View PDF(19.7 MB)
First page of Telçeker Landslides: Mass Flow Morphology and Seismotectonic Influences on Hazard Mitigation
2020

Telçeker Landslides: Mass Flow Morphology and Seismotectonic Influences on Hazard Mitigation

Salih Bayraktutan

Regional landslide hazard assessment focused on mass flow processes and seismotectonic context for the Doğubayazıt area.

View PDF(410 KB)

Foundational & Historical Works

Pioneering papers and reports from the 1970s–1990s that established the Durupınar site in scholarly and popular literature.

First page of Noah's Ark (1980 Booklet)
1980Pro-Ark research

Noah's Ark (1980 Booklet)

Ron Wyatt

Ron Wyatt's original published booklet on his investigations of the Durupınar site.

View PDF(17.4 MB)
First page of The Ark of Noah
1988Pro-Ark research

The Ark of Noah

David F. Fasold

Book-length investigation of the Durupınar formation by marine salvage expert David Fasold, published before he later became a co-author of the 1996 skeptical paper.

View PDF(55.6 MB)
First page of Where is Noah's Ark?
1975Pro-Ark research

Where is Noah's Ark?

William H. Shea

Article from Ministry Magazine (May 1975) by archaeologist William Shea reviewing the search and the textual case for the Mountains of Ararat.

View PDF(1.5 MB)
First page of The Ark-shaped Formation in the Tendürek Mountains of Eastern Turkey
1976Pro-Ark research

The Ark-shaped Formation in the Tendürek Mountains of Eastern Turkey

William H. Shea

Early scholarly description of the Durupınar formation by Shea.

View PDF(1.0 MB)
First page of Ark-Shaped Formation in the Tendürek Mountains of Eastern Turkey
1981Pro-Ark research

Ark-Shaped Formation in the Tendürek Mountains of Eastern Turkey

William H. Shea

Updated 1981 paper from Shea following further site visits and analysis.

View PDF(512 KB)
First page of Noah's Ark — Bible & Spade
1976Pro-Ark research

Noah's Ark — Bible & Spade

William H. Shea

Shea's article in Bible and Spade, Vol. 1, No. 1, an early presentation of the Durupınar evidence to a popular audience.

View PDF(614 KB)
First page of The Elliptical Formation in the Tendürek Mountains
1976

The Elliptical Formation in the Tendürek Mountains

Clifford L. Burdick

Independent 1976 description of the Durupınar formation by geologist Clifford Burdick.

View PDF(410 KB)
First page of Noah's Ark Documentary (Cem Sertesen)
Turkish

Noah's Ark Documentary (Cem Sertesen)

Cem Sertesen

Documentary script / treatment from Turkish filmmaker Cem Sertesen on the Durupınar site.

View PDF(922 KB)

Reference Material

Image collections, summaries, and tables of contents for the broader research record.

First page of Noah's Ark — A Selection of Images
2020

Noah's Ark — A Selection of Images

Discovered Media

Curated photo collection of the Durupınar site spanning historical and contemporary imagery.

View PDF(21.8 MB)
First page of Summary of Scientists' Differing Views About the Durupınar Boat-Shaped Formation

Summary of Scientists' Differing Views About the Durupınar Boat-Shaped Formation

Noah's Ark Scans

Concise overview comparing the major scholarly positions — pro-Ark, geological-syncline, and landslide-feature interpretations.

View PDF(102 KB)
First page of The Many Differing Views by Geologists About the Boat

The Many Differing Views by Geologists About the Boat

Noah's Ark Scans

Annotated table of geological viewpoints on the formation, with citations to the primary literature.

View PDF(205 KB)
First page of Noah's Ark Research — Table of Contents

Noah's Ark Research — Table of Contents

Noah's Ark Scans

Master index of the research papers and reports collected on this site.

View PDF(102 KB)

Have a paper to add?

We are continually adding to this archive. If you have published research, raw data, or survey reports on the Durupınar formation or the Mount Ararat region — pro-Ark or skeptical — please reach out and we will include it.

Contact us to contribute

Support Ongoing Research

Help fund the next round of surveys and analysis at the Durupınar site.