Could Drones Have Found Noah’s Ark in Turkey?
© NoahsArkScans.com
In 1959, while completing an aerial survey, Turkish Army Captain İlhan Durupinar spotted an unusual geological structure high in the rugged terrain on Mount Tendürek in eastern Turkey. Captain Durupinar believed that the shape of the formation closely resembled a large ship. Roughly 20 miles south of Mount Ararat, a location noted in the Bible as the final resting place of Noah’s Ark, the location was named the Durupinar site in honor of the captain who discovered it.
The formation measures approximately 515 feet in length, closely aligning with the biblical specifications of Noah’s Ark as described in the Book of Genesis. Its proportions and shape suggest intentional design, prompting decades of speculation and investigation from numerous international teams. In 2021, independent researcher Andrew Jones founded Noah’s Ark Scans in Roseville, California. Jones became interested in the Durupinar site after hearing about it as a child and visiting it years later. He became convinced that with modern technology like drones, he could reveal the true secrets of the site.
Previous studies of the Durupinar site were mostly conducted manually by teams on the ground. This included collecting soil samples that indicated the possible presence of degrading wood and iron materials that would have been used in ancient shipbuilding. But as Jones said, “We needed a way to map the site comprehensively without disturbing it. Drone technology gave us that capability with an extraordinary level of precision.” Using drones equipped with ground-penetrating radar and LiDAR scanning, Jones and his team captured detailed photogrammetric models of the site, revealing far more than ever before.
The drone Jones used is the DJI Matrice 300 RTK, a commercial-grade drone known for its durability, high-altitude performance, and advanced sensors. Equipped with a Zenmuse P1 photogrammetry payload, the Matrice captures ultra-high-resolution images with pinpoint geospatial accuracy, thanks to its real-time kinematic positioning system. The camera captures images at up to 45 megapixels, which are then processed using photogrammetry software, stitching together thousands of overlapping photos into precise 3D models and orthomosaic maps.
This level of detail allows archaeologists to visualize subsurface anomalies, align historical accounts with topographic features, and even hypothesize about hidden chambers or structures without digging a single trench. After capturing more than 1,800 images during a recent drone mission, Jones’s team discovered a series of buried geometric patterns and spaces that could suggest man-made architecture beneath the surface. Additionally, the drone images revealed that these anomalies closely match the specific measurements cited in Genesis.
Drones have been changing the landscape of archaeology dramatically over the last few years. However, for the Noah’s Ark Scans project, Jones faced significant logistical challenges. With the site’s proximity to Iran, Andrew was well aware that he ran the risk of possibly losing his drone equipment or inciting an international incident. Thankfully, by collaborating closely with Turkish authorities, including a Turkish archaeologist, an official from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and a Turkish border commander with his soldiers, all drone missions were handled safely and successfully.
To date, no definitive proof of Noah’s Ark has been found, and many archaeologists and geologists believe that the Durupinar site is simply a geological formation that has nothing to do with the famed ark. Nonetheless, Jones’s methodical, technology-driven approach is setting a new standard for biblical archaeology. More importantly, it demonstrates how emerging technologies like drones can bring scientific clarity to sites that have long been clouded by speculation and myth. “The story of Noah’s Ark is thousands of years old,” Jones says. “But the tools we use to explore it are from the 21st century. That’s what makes this project so exciting, it’s where ancient history meets cutting-edge innovation.”
As drone technology continues to evolve, Jones and his team hope to refine their findings, publish peer-reviewed data, and possibly unearth one of the most significant archaeological discoveries in history. Whether or not the Durupinar site is the final resting spot of Noah’s Ark is still a mystery. When asked if he truly believes that his drone findings through Noah’s Ark Scans have discovered the ark, Andrew remains hopeful. “Well, we hope so,” he said. “And until another site is found that matches, we’re going to keep pursuing the research here.”
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