Archaeological Excavations on Mount Ararat and Noah's Ark Debates
While claims that the excavations on Mount Ararat belong to Noah's Ark have resonated in the international press, the head of the excavation team emphasized that definitive discovery claims are premature and misleading.
While pre-Christian legends regarding the location of Noah's Ark on Mount Ararat have found coverage in the British and US press, Prof. Dr. Cenker Atila, head of the scientific excavations in the region, warned against definitive discovery claims.
Focus of Attention in the International Press
Beliefs and legends tracing back to the past concerning the presence of Noah's Ark on Mount Ararat were brought back to the global agenda through publications by the UK-based newspaper Daily Mail and the US-based magazine Newsweek.
Scientific Methods and Excavation Schedule
Prof. Dr. Cenker Atila, a faculty member in the Archaeology Department of Sivas Cumhuriyet University and head of the excavation team, stated that modern technologies were utilized during the field studies conducted between June 29 and September 11.
It was stated that precise GPS coordinates, digital modeling, core drilling, electrical resistivity, and ground-penetrating radar scanning technologies were utilized in the studies.
Carbon Testing Results Awaited
It was announced that carbon tests will be applied to determine the period to which the obtained samples belong and that laboratory results will become clear within two to three months.
Warning Against Definitive Discovery Claims
Prof. Dr. Cenker Atila importantly noted that headlines claiming Noah's Ark has been definitively discovered do not reflect the truth and are misleading.
Status of Current Findings
It was reported that the excavations, which are also supported by the US-based Noah's Ark Discovery Association, have not yet reached concrete scientific evidence or wooden remains, and the findings obtained have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal.