Noah’s Ark Geology

The boat-shaped Durupınar formation near Mount Ararat has attracted decades of investigation and debate concerning its possible connection with Noah’s Ark. This presentation addresses the geology of the site, drawing on Dr Mehmet Salih Bayraktutan’s longstanding involvement in its investigation. It provides an opportunity to consider geological observations, research methods and the interpretation of evidence within the wider discussion of the biblical Ark. Registered participants can attend live and ask questions during the Q&A.

Dr Mehmet Salih Bayraktutan is a Turkish geological engineer whose professional work encompasses sedimentology, basin analysis, engineering geology, geophysical exploration and geological hazards. His career has combined university research and teaching with applied work involving natural resources and infrastructure.

His research activities in eastern Türkiye include the Oltu–Narman basins, landslides in the Doğubayazıt–Ağrı region and investigations of the Durupınar formation. His published work and conference contributions provide a broader geological context for his involvement in the search for Noah’s Ark.

He has participated in investigations of the Durupınar formation for several decades, including radar investigations and drilling attempts with John Baumgardner in 1987–1988. According to a report published by the Noah’s Ark Scans project in June 2026, he directed the collection of 88 soil samples from 22 locations inside and outside the formation in September 2024. Australian soil scientist Bill Crabtree contributed to the survey design, and the project reports that the samples were analysed at Atatürk University laboratories.