Archaeologists and historians have speculated about the whereabouts of Noah's Ark for decades.
Now the pottery fragments have sparked renewed interest and provide potential evidence that the ark's supposed final resting place was indeed inhabited by humans at the time of the flood.
Professor Dr Faruk Kaya from Agri Ibrahim Sesen University said the pottery was found near the supposed outline of the Ark at the Dogubayazit site on Turkey's Mount Ararat.
The fragments were discovered during road construction near the Durupinar formation in Agri province, a boat-shaped geological structure that has been at the center of Noah's Ark claims for decades.
The pottery indicates human activity in the region between 5500 and 3000 BC, a time period that some scientists and believers associate with the era traditionally associated with the biblical figure of Noah.
The new discoveries have also prompted renewed calls for official protection of the site amid concerns that visitors are taking away the stones and fragments as souvenirs.
Dr Kaya said: “This formation and its surroundings must be protected and the removal of stones, stones and similar materials from the area must be prevented.”
He warned that tourists were removing materials from the area, including marked stones, potentially damaging what researchers say is an important archaeological and religious heritage site.
The Durupinar Formation was first discovered in 1959 by Captain Ilhan Durupinar. Later, heavy rain and earthquakes eroded the surrounding land, exposing much of the formation's outline.
The structure has long attracted attention due to its boat-like shape and proximity to Mount Ararat, Turkey's highest peak, which has been associated with the Ark in Christian tradition for centuries.
The biblical book of Genesis says that Noah's ark came to rest on the “mountains of Ararat” after a flood that submerged the Earth for 150 days.
Biblical dimensions describe the Ark as 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high. Dimensions that, according to some researchers, generally correspond to the scale of the Durupinar site.
Professor Dr Kaya said the dating of the pottery was generally consistent with traditional estimates of Noah's life.
Scientific interest in this region has increased in recent years. The Mount Ararat and Noah's Ark Research Group was officially established in 2022 as a collaboration between Agri Ibrahim Sesen University and Agri Ibrahim Sesen University. Istanbul A technical university that brings together specialists in the fields of geophysics, chemistry and geoarchaeology.
Rock and soil samples collected from the formation were analyzed in the laboratories of Istanbul Technical University.
The researchers said the results showed that sustained human life in the region had been possible since the Chalcolithic period, adding further support to the claim that it may be an actual biblical site.
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