Archaeologists think that they are not a step closer towards confirming where Noah's Ark rests.
Noah's Ark Site Found?
An archaeological team conducting excavations on a Turkish geological formation has collected aged soil and rock samples that could hold the vessel's ruins. This also makes things date back to the time the Great Flood took place around 5,000 years ago.
The efforts started in 2021 and are still ongoing until now. However, initial analysis has discovered that the samples have marine materials, seafood, and clayey within them. The researchers note that these signify that human activity took place on the boat-shaped mount from B.C. 5500 to B.C. 3000.
According to the Bible, Noah's Ark settled over Turkey's mount Ararat after a 150-day flood drowned the entire earth and every creature that was not inside the massive boat.
The geological formation situated in Ağrı's Doğubayazıt district has bee seen to be a potential site since it was found in 1956. The mountain is also Turkey's highest peak, standing at around 16,500 feet and having an ark-like shape carving.
The ark is said to measure 300 cubits, 50 cubits, by 30 cubits. This means that it is 515 feet long, 52 feet high, and 86 feet wide.
An expert team that is led by the Istanbul Technical University (İTÜ), as well as Andrew University and Ağrı İbrahim Çeçen University (AİÇÜ) have been examining the site for almost a year, gathering samples that they think could confirm the Biblical event.
The first part of their project started in December 2022 when they gathered 30 soil and rock fragments that were later analyzed by the laboratory in ITU. Vice Rector Professor Faruk Kaya from AİÇÜ explains that based on the initial findings, there have been human activities in the area since the years B.C. 5500 to B.C. 3000. Professor Kaya adds that it is known that the Great Flood took place 5,000 years ago.
When it comes to dating, results show that life used to dwell in this area. This was shown in lab results.
However, it is not possible to conclude through dating that the ship was in the area. It is necessary to conduct long-term efforts to verify this.
However, young Earth creationist Dr. Andrew Snelling, previously explained that the ark could not be located in Mount Ararat because the mountain was not formed until the recession of the flood waters.
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Noah's Ark
While the Great Flood is considered a historical occurrence, most archaeologists and scholars do not think that the story should be interpreted literally.
According to the Bible, God issues a command to Noah to construct a massive ship known as the ark. This ship would help save Noah and his family and some representatives of the animals of the world. This came after the corruption and wickedness of man spurred God to send a huge flood, wherein he deemed Noah as the only righteous man.
The Bible also states that when Noah finished the task of constructing the Ark, God sent two of each animal to enter the Ark. The waters then rose until the mountains were submerged, leading to the death of all life, except fish.
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