Mount Ararat, 2006

'Exploring the Mysteries of Mount Ararat: A Successful Partnership with Ataturk University'

As I stepped out of the plane and onto the Turkish soil, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation. After months of planning and negotiations, my team at ArcImaging had finally secured a partnership with Ataturk University for research on and around Ağri Daği, also known as Mount Ararat.

Our goal was to uncover the truth behind one of the world's most enduring mysteries - the location of Noah's Ark. And with the support of Ataturk University, we were one step closer to achieving that goal.

Rex Geisler and Myself, 2006

The two-day negotiation process was intense, but ultimately fruitful. We signed a historic document that solidified our partnership and opened the doors for our research to begin later this year. The Turkish authorities were also very supportive and showed great interest in our project, giving us hope that our research visas would be granted.

As we made our way to the base of Mount Ararat, the lush green fields and snow-covered peaks were a sight to behold. Despite the past month's rain, we were greeted with clear blue skies for the entire trip. The only time it rained was during our visit to the Hittite ruins, a reminder of the rich history and culture of this region.

At 16,854 feet high, Mount Ararat is an imposing and majestic presence. Many believe, based on evidence, that the ark is located somewhere on the northeast side of the mountain. Our team was determined to explore the Ahora Gorge.

Using advanced technology such as Ground Penetrating Radar, the Western Plateau glacier, was previously examined by the Willis and Aaron/Garbe/Corbin expeditions in 1988 and 1989 respectively. While we did not find any indication of the ark, our research was just beginning.

The partnership with Ataturk University not only provided us with the necessary resources and support, but it also opened doors for future collaborations and research opportunities. We are grateful for their trust and belief in our mission, and we are excited to continue our journey to uncover the secrets of Mount Ararat.

As we left Turkey and flew back home, I couldn't help but reflect on the significance of this partnership. It's not just about finding the ark, but also about building bridges and fostering international cooperation. Mount Ararat may hold the key to one of the world's greatest mysteries, but it has also brought people together in pursuit of knowledge and discovery. And that, to me, is truly remarkable.

Just returned from Mt Ararat in Turkey and a successful negotiation with Ataturk University. ArcImaging signed another historic document with Ataturk University to partner in research on and around Ağri Daği (Mt. Ararat) for later this year. It looks very promising for the Turkish authorities to grant us our research visa's.

The fields were green from the spring melting and the Mountain was gorgeous with the covering of snow from the winter yet to melt. the contours of the mountain were clearly seen from the snow laying in the ravines. Although it had rained for the past month it was blue skies for the entire two days and in fact for our entire trip. Only rained one during our trip to the Hittite ruins.

Mount Ararat is 16,854 feet (5,137 m) high (see chapter photo). Many believe from the weight of evidence that the ark is above or in the Ahora Gorge on the northeast side of Mount Ararat. A portion of the glacier (Western Plateau) was examined using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) by the Willis Expedition in 1988 and the Aaron/Garbe/Corbin Expedition in 1989, with no indication of the ark.[1]

In 2006 a group of Christians from Hong Kong, funded by Media Evangelism Ltd., calling themselves Noah’s Ark Ministries International, claimed to have found the ark under layers of rock and ice. They report that the cavity of the ark forms what looks like a cave. However, they have refused to share their samples with other organizations, like ArcImaging, who would like to perform tests on the samples. However, in February 2008 photos of geologic thin-sections of the “wood” were examined by creationary geologists Dr. Don Patton and Dr. Don Shockey, who concur that this is likely volcanic tuff and not petrified wood.

J. Randall Price of Liberty University was also working with the Chinese/Turkish team, and based on his experience and eyewitness testimony, doubts the claim, and as such embarked on his own expedition in 2009–2013, using heavy equipment to dig in a particular location in the ice.[2] Price performed a GPR scan of a section of the ice cap, took core samples to bedrock but found no wood but intends to carry out further probes of the glacier if the political conditions permit.[3]

29. Mount Ararat in modern-day Turkey, where some believe Noah’s ark came to rest.

Eyewitness Accounts

The main reason that ark explorers have sought to climb Mount Ararat in Turkey is over 60 alleged eyewitnesses, who claim to have walked on, been inside and brought back pieces of wood, allegedly from the ark. Ancient historians such as Berossus (290 BC), Hieronymus (ca. AD 347–420), Nicholas of Damascus (64 BC–AD ?), and Josephus (A.J. 3.5–6) have recorded Mount Ararat as the location for sightings of the ark. Recent alleged eyewitness sightings from 1856 to 1974 are all documented in The Explorers of Ararat.[4] Of the eyewitnesses, some are reliable WWII and other military veterans, who did not know each other. Rex Geissler has spoken with 24 alleged eyewitnesses. However, while there are many drawings, paintings, and testimonies, there are no legible photos. But why did the alleged eyewitnesses see a boat, when the explorers over the past 50 years did not? One possible explanation is the phenomena of meltbacks of the ice during warm summers.

Footnotes

[1] For further information on ark research consult the following websites: www.noahsarksearch.com, and www.arcimaging .com.

[2] http://www.worldofthebible.com/news.htm; Brent Baum, Finding Noah Movie, 2015.

[3] Personal conversations with Dr. Price.

[4] B. J. Corban, The Explorers of Ararat and the Search for Noah’s Ark, ed. Rex Geissler (Long Beach, CA: Great Commission Illustrated Books, 1999).

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