Researchers investigating the disputed Durupınar site near Mount Ararat in eastern Turkey have captured unprecedented underground footage of what is believed to be the remains of Noah’s Ark. Operating under Turkish government authorization, an international team—comprising experts from Istanbul Technical University, Ağrı İbrahim Çeçen University, and the USA’s Andrews University—has been utilizing a specialized subsurface drone named “Gopher.” Developed by Australian robotics engineers, the compact drill-drone was lowered down core-drilled shafts up to 18 meters deep to navigate tight subterranean spaces without requiring large-scale excavation.
Initial observations have revealed significant quantities of organic material along with a complete absence of solid rock layers within the structure. Furthermore, soil and wood-like samples have been collected for rigorous carbon dating and mineralogical analysis, with final scientific conclusions pending comprehensive laboratory results. The Durupınar site—a 538-foot geological formation rich in limonite located near the Turkish-Iranian border—has been the focal point of collaborative research since 2021 as scientists investigate the boat-shaped fossilized structure.