Has Anyone Discovered Noah's Ark?

Share/recommend this article:

Excerpt ABR staff members Gordon Franz and Rick Lanser have spent considerable time and research with respect to Noah's Ark. There are two possible candidates ABR has identified within the region of Ararat. 1. Mount Cudi, a view held by Bill Crouse and ABR Staff Member Gordon Franz. 2. Mount Ararat, a view held by Rick Lanser, ABR Staff Member. Both views have significant merits, so we urge you to read the research and decide for yourself! Continue reading

Explore
Related Articles
Support
Like this artice?

Our Ministry relies on the generosity of people like you. Every small donation helps us develop and publish great articles.

Please support ABR!

Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover & PayPal

Over the last two decades the search for Noah's Ark has received international attention. Dozens of expeditions to the Ararat region of eastern Turkey, mostly by American Christian groups, have led to numerous claims - but no proof.

According to the Bible, Noah's Ark was a large barge constructed of wood and sealed with bitumen. Its overall dimensions were at least 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high with three interior decks. A “window” appeared to be constructed around the top (Genesis 6:14-16). Incidentally, the overall size of the Ark makes it the largest seagoing vessel known before the 20th century, and its proportions are amazingly similar to the large ocean liners of today.


Artist's conception of Noah's Ark based on biblical information and reported sightings on Mt. Ararat.


The Bible says Noah's boat came to rest on “the mountains of Ararat” (Genesis 8:4). “Ararat” probably designated a region (the ancient kingdom of Urartu) and not a specific mountain peak. After Noah and his family left the Ark on the mountain, the boat virtually disappeared from the pages of the Bible. Later Biblical writers never suggested they knew it could still be seen.

The mountain called Ararat today is more like a mountain range with twin peaks. Interestingly, there have been numerous reports throughout history of a large boat on a mountain in this region. Earliest references (beginning in the 3rd century B.C.) suggested it was common knowledge that the Ark could still be viewed on Mount Ararat.

Reports over the past century range from visits to the vessel, to recovery of wooden timber, to aerial photographs. It is generally believed that at least large part of the Ark is intact, not on the highest peak, but somewhere above the 10,000 foot level. Apparently encased in snow and ice for most of the year, only during certain warm summers can the structure be witnessed or accessed. Some have spoken of climbing onto the roof, others say they have walked inside.

In the 1980s, “ark-eology” was given an air of respectability with the active participation of former NASA astronaut James Irwin in expeditions up the mountain. In addition, Ark investigation was also given a boost with the breakup of the former Soviet Union, because the mountain was right on the Turkey-Soviet border. Expeditions up the mountain had been considered a security threat by the Soviet government.

Ed: ABR staff members Gordon Franz and Rick Lanser have spent considerable time and research with respect to Noah's Ark. There are two possible candidates ABR has identified within the region of Ararat. 1. Mount Cudi, a view held by Bill Crouse and ABR Staff Member Gordon Franz. 2. Mount Ararat, a view held by Rick Lanser, ABR Staff Member. Both views have significant merits, so we urge you to read the research and decide for yourself!

The Summer 2008 issue of Bible and Spade has an extensive article on the archaeological artifacts and data discovered in the region of Mt. Ararat in Turkey. To get this issue of Bible and Spade delivered to your door, click here: Summer 2008 Bible and Spade

Read more at these ABR links:

An Armenian Perspective on the Search for Noah's Ark

Did the BASE Institute Discover Noah’s Ark in Iran?

Noah's Ark in Iran? 

Mount Cudi: The True Mountain of Noah's Ark in the Fall 2006 Issue of Bible and Spade: View the PDF

The Case for Ararat in the Fall 2006 Issue of Bible and Spade: View the PDF

Other articles pertaining to Noah's Ark and the Genesis Flood 

Gordon Franz returns from Mount Cudi Expedition

REFERENCES

Crouse, Bill. 1992. “Noah's Ark: Its Final Birth,” Bible and Spade 5:3, pp. 66-77.
Livingston, David. 1993. “The Date of Noah's Flood: Literary and Archaeological Evidence,” Bible and Spade 6/1: 13-17.
Shea, William. 1988. “Noah's Ark?” Bible and Spade 1/1: 6-14. 

Comments Comment RSS

6/6/2008 12:36 AM #

Hello ABR,
  I love what you are doing for Christ! The stones are truly crying out in the work that you are doing.
  When will the next attempt be in the search for Noah's Ark? Can I come along?
David Carter
Kentucky

David Carter - 6/6/2008 12:36:42 AM

6/10/2008 9:45 PM #

Dear David,

Thanks for writing and for your encouraging comments! Rick Lanser and Gordon Franz are both doing research on the subject. They hold two valid but differing views on the location of the Ark. We are waiting to see how it all turns out. Of course, the Ark would be the greatest archaeological discovery of all time! We'll see where the evidence leads us... There is no telling when the next expedition might be...security is a major issue, especially around Mount Ararat. For more on Noah's Ark, see:
http://www.biblearchaeology.org/faq.aspx#Faq3
Thanks for writing and please keep us in your prayers. Blessings---Henry Smith

hsmith - 6/10/2008 9:45:57 PM

8/14/2008 2:01 PM #

i doubt that anyone will find the ark as its discovery would have an impact on faith.  would God allow it to be discovered and thus undermine His own criteria that pleases Him?

my question though is to the credibility to the stories of Noah's tomb and why no one ever mentions it or the tombs of his sons? gertrude bell talked about noah's tomb and years ago i came across a website with drawings of the tombs of noah and his sons but since then nothing.

here is a picture of a tomb thought to be noah's and a link to 1 story on the topic:

www.ancientworldfoundation.org/noahstomb.htm

www.ancientworldfoundation.org/tombofnoah.htm

why are there so little mention of these tombs so little information on them, as they are located in armenia,not far from the ark's supposed landing?

dr. david tee - 8/14/2008 2:01:54 PM

10/13/2009 11:33 AM #

Bill Crouse published three of my articles in "Ararat Report."  He did every-
one a great service to set the table for debating these Ark issues.  The Ark, however, is found - or what remains of it after perhaps 5,000 years.  In "The Epic of Gilgamesh," - one of the most famous Middle Eastern accounts of the Flood, the ship came to rest on Mt. Nisir.  In the Koran, it rested on Al-Judi.  (This is recorded in David Fasold's book, THE ARK OF NOAH.)  In the original Hebrew language, the ship came to rest "on the mountains of Urartu."  These three descriptions are reconciled in only one location, and that is the site below the village of Nisir, on the Al-Judi (mount) that is located approximately 18 miles south of Mt. Ararat.  (Known as the "Durupinar Site.")  

There is a form of evidence that is not generally taken into account.  That is the evidence of signs from God.  I have anecdotes regarding this type of evidence that leave me no doubt that the remains of Noah's ship is at the Durupinar Site, in the mountains of what used to be known as the kingdom of Urartu.

David Doerr - 10/13/2009 11:33:13 AM

5/30/2010 5:25 PM #

how BLIND you people are ... Ron Wyatt did find it already more than 20 years ago and you are still wasting your time ... Frown

Paul - 5/30/2010 5:25:11 PM

5/31/2010 10:47 AM #

Ron Wyatt's claims have been, frankly, shown to be in error and should not be used as support for the Bible. Perhaps the best product out there that deals with Mr. Wyatt's material is this book we have here:

www.biblearchaeology.org/.../product.aspx?id=108

Also, here is a word from our Director of Research, Dr. Bryant Wood:

Ron Wyatt, now deceased, was not a credible scholar.  He was an anesthetist with no training in archaeology or the ancient Near East.  He was merely an adventurer.  Wyatt was a Seventh Day Adventist and has been thoroughly refuted by his own denomination (Holy Relics or Revelation—Recent Astounding Archaeological Claims Evaluated, by Russell R. and Colin D. Standish, published by Heartland Publications in 1999 (www.biblearchaeology.org/.../product.aspx?id=108). ABR has published a research article debunking the claim that Mt. Sinai is located in Saudi Arabia: www.biblearchaeology.org/.../...Saudi-Arabia.aspx.  

In short, the Bible records that the sea crossing took place at the beginning of the Exodus journey, closer to Egypt, rather than at the end of the journey, closer to Mt. Sinai, as Wyatt’s theory would have it.  Even more damaging is the fact that it took the Israelites but 60 days to reach Mt. Sinai (Exod. 19:1).  Travelling by foot with all of their animals, they only would be able to make 5–6 miles per day, much too slow to reach Saudi Arabia in 60 days (see www.biblearchaeology.org/.../...Mount-Sinai.aspx).  

According to the requirements of Scripture, the sea crossing took place in the Isthmus of Suez.  I believe it was at Lake Ballah, no longer seen today since it was drained when the Suez Canal was cut (see www.biblearchaeology.org/.../...ossing-Part-I.aspx and www.biblearchaeology.org/.../...ing-Part-II.aspx).  Mt. Sinai should be located somewhere in the northeast Sinai (see www.biblearchaeology.org/.../...th-Mt-Sinai.aspx).  Note that the so-called “chariot wheels” at the bottom of the Gulf of Aqaba shown in the presentation have four spokes whereas Egyptian chariot wheels have six spokes.

And, also, a brief comment from another staff member, Rick Lanser (this written to another person asking about Mr. Wyatt)

Ron Wyatt did not discover anything that has held up to close examination. For example, the chariot wheel in the YouTube video was found to have been put there for making the video, and is not even an ancient Egyptian wheel. The YouTube videos are designed not to give scientific facts, but to get you to send in money to the Wyatt supporters. There is much evidence the claims are fraudulent at http://www.tentmaker.org/WAR/ and www.answersingenesis.org/.../report.asp.
ABR wants to promote any discoveries that uphold the historical reliability of the Bible, regardless of who makes them. But we refuse to promote self-serving and apparently fraudulent information. There are many out there who make a living doing just that. I hope this information has helped you be a discerning reader of such information.

In His service---Rick Lanser

We hope that this information is helpful to you. Thanks for trusting us as a source for answers.

Blessings,

ABR

ABR - 5/31/2010 10:47:47 AM

Research RSS Feed

AddThis Feed Button

Recent Articles

In this article we will discuss why the decree of Daniel 9:25 must be identified with one issued by the...
II. Analysis and Discussion 3. Liber Biblicarum Antiquitatum 4. Augustine’s Renegade Scribe Theory 5....
II. Analysis and Discussion 2. Straw Men and Ad Hominems
II. Analysis and Discussion 1. The Rabbinic Deflation of the MT’s Primeval Chronology
Associates for Biblical Research
  • PO Box 144, Akron, PA 17501
  • Phone: +1 717-859-3443
  • Toll Free: 1-800-430-0008
Friend ABR on Facebook.com Join us on Twitter Join us on Twitter