Fragments of pottery dating back to the biblical era have been discovered in eastern Turkey, near the Durupınar Formation – a ship-shaped geological structure long associated by some researchers with the legend of Noah’s Ark, according to The Sun.
The artefacts were unearthed during road construction work, and Professor Faruk Kaya, from Ibrahim Cecen Agri University, believes they represent evidence of a Copper Age human settlement.
This era – between 5500 and 3000 BC – is often linked to the biblical story of Noah, and the presence of pottery suggests that people lived in the area around the time when tradition places the great flood.
Professor Kaya points out that the fragments discovered indicate clear human activity and draws attention to the need to protect the site, as visitors would take home stones and other materials deemed important for research.
The Durupınar formation was first observed in 1959 by the Turkish engineer Ilhan Durupinar, during some mapping flights.
The outline of the formation bears a striking resemblance to a ship
Heavy rains and earthquakes over the years have revealed even more of its outline, which bears a striking resemblance to a giant ship.
Its location in close proximity to Mount Ararat – the place where, according to the Book of Genesis, Noah’s Ark would have rested after the 150-day flood – fueled public interest and speculation.
The dimensions of the formation seem to approach those mentioned in the Bible, which attracted the attention of researchers. In 2022, a dedicated study team of specialists in geophysics, chemistry and geoarchaeology was established to systematically analyze the area.
The first results suggest that the region may have supported human life since the Copper Age, and the new ceramic fragments are seen as an important piece in this archaeological puzzle.
Professor Kaya says there is no similar formation anywhere in the world and proposes the establishment of a research and conservation center near Ararat, modeled after similar institutions in the US, Holland or Hong Kong, to protect and capitalize on this site with unique historical and religious potential.
