LAHORE: The search for the remains of Prophet Noah’s (AS) Ark has once again attracted international attention after an alleged underground boat-shaped structure was reportedly identified at a site in eastern Turkey.
According to longstanding claims, the Ark came to rest after the great flood at a location associated with Mount Tendürek in eastern Turkey.
The site, known as Durupinar, has attracted researchers and visitors for decades because its unusual formation resembles the shape of a massive ship.
Geologists have generally argued that the approximately 515-foot-long formation is a natural geological structure rather than the remains of an ancient vessel.
However, recent claims involving subsurface radar technology have renewed interest in the controversial site.
In this regard, Turkish-American military scientist Dr. Khusro Bakhtiyar examined the area beneath the formation using a radar system known as the “Bakhtiyar Radar.”
The technology reportedly uses electromagnetic signals to detect objects and structures beneath the ground.
The scan indicated the presence of a boat-shaped structure beneath the surface, prompting renewed speculation among religious circles and researchers about whether the site could be connected to the Ark described in religious traditions.
Dr. Bakhtiyar and his team are seeking permission to conduct excavation work at the location. Such an excavation could potentially provide physical evidence that may help determine whether the underground formation is an archaeological structure or a naturally occurring geological feature.
The story also has a significant religious dimension. The Quran refers to the Ark coming to rest on Al-Judi, although the exact modern geographical location of the mountain is not explicitly identified.
Despite the renewed excitement, the claims remain unverified. A radar image or boat-like underground anomaly alone cannot establish that the structure is Noah’s Ark.
Meanwhile, independent geological and archaeological investigation, excavation, dating and peer-reviewed scientific analysis would be necessary before such a conclusion could be considered credible.
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The Durupinar formation remains at the centre of one of history’s most enduring archaeological mysteries and any future excavation could determine whether the latest radar findings reveal an extraordinary ancient structure or simply another chapter in the long-running debate over Noah’s Ark.
