In a mammoth discovery that could blow the lid off Biblical history, researchers believe they may have found evidence of “human activity” surrounding the rumoured site of the abandoned Noah’s Ark.
Researchers from both Turkey and the US have found evidence that suggests people populated the area around the ancient ruins of what they think may be Noah’s Ark on Mount Ararat, the highest mountain in Turkey.
The famous Old Testament story sees God telling Noah to build an ark. Deeming Noah the only man worth saving, God tells him to board his family and the planet’s animals on the boat to save them from a flood he sent to Earth to cleanse it of its supposed sins.
The ship was said to come to rest on the mountains of Ararat following the 150-day flood between 5500 and 3000 BC.
Faruk Kaya, Ağrı İbrahim Çeçen University (AİÇÜ) vice rector professor told Turkish news publication Hurriyet: “In terms of dating, it is stated that there was life in this region as well.”
Professor Kaya added: “According to the first findings obtained from the studies, there have been human activities in the region since the Chalcolithic period between the years 5500 and 3000 BC.
“This was revealed in the laboratory results. It is known that the flood of Prophet Noah went back 5,000 years ago. In terms of dating, it is stated that there was life in this region as well. This was revealed in the laboratory results. It is not possible to say that the ship is here with the dating. We need to work for a long time to reveal this.”
The vessel was said to measure ‘300 cubits, 50 cubits, by 30 cubits’, which translates to up to 515 feet long, 86 feet wide and 52 feet high.
Along with the Istanbul Technical University (İTÜ), AİÇÜ worked on the site for over a year collecting samples they think may be key to verifying the basis of Biblical story.
However, other archaeologists have said the formation in the mound is geological and not the result of an ancient shipwreck.
They also stated there is no scientific record of a global flood such as the one described in the biblical tale. Dr Andrew Snelling, a young Earth creationist with a Ph.D. from the University of Sydney, had previously said that Mount Ararat could not be the ark’s location because the mountain did not form until after the flood waters receded.