Noah's Ark Located?

In 1959, Captain Ilhan Durupanar, an Army Captain, embarked on an aerial reconnaissance mission on behalf of NATO. His objective was to capture photographs from his aircraft, aiding in the mapping of a remote area in the Turkish Highlands. Not long before this, the terrain had undergone significant changes due to three powerful earthquakes. As a result, the government required updated imagery. The flight proceeded as usual until, unexpectedly, Captain Durupanar observed an intriguing and peculiar formation amidst the rocky landscape below. Intrigued, he wasted no time in photographing the unusual sight. When the film was developed, the captain was astounded to discover what appeared to be remnants of a massive ship situated far inland and astonishingly, at an altitude of 6,500 feet above sea level. The question arose: what could a ship possibly be doing in such an unlikely location? Unbeknownst to him at the time, he may have inadvertently stumbled upon a solution to a great biblical enigma that has perplexed humanity for millennia the mystery of Noah's Ark.

The tale of Noah's Ark is recounted in the biblical Book of Genesis. Following God's creation of the universe and the emergence of mankind beginning with Adam and Eve, subsequent generations led to the birth of Noah. As detailed in Genesis, during Noah's era, God became disheartened by the wickedness and sinfulness that had consumed humanity. Observing these unfortunate circumstances, God resolved to initiate a complete reset, erasing all that He had created and starting anew. Yet, He showed mercy to Noah and his family, on the condition that Noah construct an ark capable of sheltering pairs of every animal species existing on Earth. This ark, a colossal vessel, was specifically designed to endure the forthcoming cataclysmic deluge predicted to engulf the planet. God imparted precise instructions to Noah regarding the ark's construction, specifying the number of floors, rooms, and the preferred wood material to be used. Furthermore, the Book of Genesis provides exact measurements for the ark 515 feet in length, 86 feet in width, and 51 feet in height. According to the biblical account, the flood persisted for a duration of forty days and forty nights. Eventually, as the waters gradually subsided, the ark came to rest on the Mountains of Ararat. Interestingly, to this day, there exists a mountain named Mount Ararat.

This towering peak in Turkey, captured in Drupanar's breathtaking aerial photograph, has been a subject of fascination for centuries among religious scholars and historians. They interpret the tale of the great flood as a metaphor, a divine warning of punishment for sin. Remarkably, references to the flood can be found in both the Torah and the Quran. Could these photographs potentially offer tangible evidence that Noah's Ark truly existed? The emergence of these photos has sparked a heated controversy and has left explorers in a state of unparalleled excitement. If these images indeed depict Noah's Ark, it would substantiate the Bible's narrative, confirming its historical authenticity. This would mean that the flood was not just a fictional occurrence, but a real event that shaped human history.

Researchers now have two avenues to pursue in their quest for answers. One involves studying the very structure of the boat itself, while the other focuses on uncovering evidence of a colossal flood. Massive natural disasters leave behind indelible traces that can endure for thousands of years. Interestingly enough, extensive research supports the hypothesis that a monumental flood likely transpired in the region near Duropanar's photograph. In 1997, a multidisciplinary team consisting of geologists, geophysicists, and oceanographers—led by American scientists William Ryan and Walter Pittman—meticulously analyzed the Black Sea and its surrounding areas. Their findings revealed compelling evidence of what they refer to as the "Black Sea Deluge." Deep within the saltwater basin of the Black Sea, remains of freshwater animals dating back to approximately 5,000 to 6,000 BC were unearthed. Additionally, soil samples and bedrock tests provided irrefutable proof that the region was once a freshwater lake that underwent a rapid transformation. The prevailing theory posits that around 8,000 years ago, an immense glacier collapsed, triggering a cataclysmic surge in the Mediterranean Sea. This led to the inundation of the surrounding regions, including the formation of what we now know as the Black Sea. Remarkably, this torrential flow of water persisted for a staggering 300 consecutive days, equivalent to the force of 200 Niagara Falls unleashed daily. The freshwater lake swelled and deepened at a staggering rate of one mile per day. Imagine, if you were a resident of the region, within a matter of hours, your home could be swallowed by the sea. The scale of this flood was akin to the size of the state of Colorado, impacting potentially thousands upon thousands of lives. According to the authors of the study, it is conceivable that any survivors may have passed down their harrowing account of the flood through countless generations.

In 1985, the tireless search for Noah's Ark took a significant turn when a clay tablet, believed to be 4,000 years old, was unearthed in the attic of a British Air Force veteran. Years of arduous work were invested in deciphering this valuable artifact, as many believed it held the potential to solve the enigma surrounding the location of the great flood as described in the Bible, and the subsequent landing spot of the ark itself. In the 1980s, an Englishman named Leonard Simmons, who had led a captivating life as a Royal Air Force officer, left this world. His extensive travels around the world, particularly the Mediterranean Basin, allowed Simmons to amass a treasure trove of diverse artifacts, which he proudly brought back to England. Inquisitive about the nature and significance of these objects, Simmons' son, Douglas, occasionally took an item and presented it to the British Museum. Then, in 1985, a moment of revelation occurred when Douglas arrived at the museum with a minuscule clay tablet in his possession. This remarkable tablet held the potential to unlock the mysteries shrouding the location of the biblical flood and provide insights into the final resting place of Noah's Ark.

Maybe around four inches tall, not very large, it is covered on both sides with ancient Mesopotamian cuneiform script. Simmons meets with Dr. Irvin Finkel, the Chief curator for near Eastern artifacts at the British Museum. When Finkel begins examining this text, he is genuinely astonished. Finkel knows that every single mark on this tablet is invaluable. His eyes scan the first line, and he is overcome with excitement because, in this tiny tablet, there is a detailed account of a catastrophic flood. Finkel asks Simmons if he can retain the tablet for a complete translation, but Simmons declines. Finkel is eager to have a chance at deciphering the tablet because he has dedicated his life to the study of these ancient cuneiform writings and recognizes its significance.

Finkel's department at the British Museum contains over 130,000 of these clay cuneiform tablets, the majority of which were excavated in Iraq in 1852. The ancient Mesopotamians utilized cuneiform primarily to keep records of various transactions, such as determining the number of ducks required for a feast. However, they also recorded at least one thrilling historical tale, such as the Epic of Gilgamesh, which remains one of my personal favorites. This poem recounts the legendary feats of King Gilgamesh, who ruled in ancient Mesopotamia, near presentday Iraq. The story commences with a tremendous flood sent by the gods, obliterating everything in its path. Most scholars believe that the Epic of Gilgamesh was written between three and four thousand years ago and astonishingly mirrors the story of Noah's Ark. It is crucial to remember that this story predates Noah's Ark by at least a thousand years, raising the question of whether there was one original event or numerous flood stories within the Epic of Gilgamesh.

In the epic, an immortal man named Utnapistim gathers various animals and seeks refuge with them on an ark, saving them from this cataclysmic flood. Utnapistim's vessel ultimately comes to rest on a mountain known as Mountain Mush. The parallels between this account and the story of Noah's Ark are so striking that many scholars hypothesize that the story of Noah's Ark is a direct descendant of Utnapistim's story within the Epic of Gilgamesh. Ultimately, we have to consider the purpose of this narrative and why different cultures recount various versions of flood stories. It serves a universal message, emphasizing our shared capability to endure against all odds. Throughout history, there have been numerous instances where human beings have come together and found ways to survive massive floods, such as those in Indonesia in 2004 and New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. This resilience was also evident five thousand years ago, inspiring a tale that continues to resonate with us today.