The 1960 Life Magazine Article
"Noah's Ark?
Boatlike form is seen near Ararat"
Text of the Article
"While routinely examining aerial photos of his country,
a Turkish army captain suddenly gaped at the picture shown above. There, on a mountain 20 miles south of Mt. Ararat,
the biblical landfall of Noah's Ark, was a boat-shaped form about 500 feet long. The captain passed on the word.
Soon an expedition including American scientists set out for the site.
At 7,000 feet, in the midst of crevasses and landslide debris, the explorers found a clear,
grassy area shaped like a ship and rimmed with steep, packed-earth sides.
Its dimensions are close to those given in Genesis: 'The length of the ark shall be 300 cubits,
the breadth of it 50 cubits, and the height of it 30 cubits,' that is, 450x75x45 feet.
A quick two-day survey revealed no sign that the object was man made.
Yet a scientist in the group says nothing in nature could create such a symmetrical shape.
A thorough excavation may be made another year to solve the mystery."
Article Pictures
Caption under the Boat Shaped Object picture
"FROM THE AIR the ship-shaped outline lies
in the center of a landslide on the slope of a mountain that is only 25 miles
from the Russian border. The landslides are of recent origin, may have packed
thick mud and stones around the strange form. The photo was shot by a Turkish aerial
survey plane from 10,000 feet."
Caption under the Mound picture
"FROM THE GROUND, at the "stern," the 160-foot-wide object is seen to have
grass-covered mound in center. The 20-foor-high rim dwarfs expedition's horses."
Caption under the Soldiers picture
"ON THE RUGGED PLATEAU the smooth oval form
in rear center contrasts with gullied terrain around it. "Prow" points toward peaks
of Agri-Tenduruk area. Turkish soldiers, who escorted expedition, dynamited section
of object's thick packed-earth side. Small bits of wood but no large chunks were found in rim."
Quotes on the Durupinar Site
"I have no doubt at all that this object is a ship. In my entire career I have never seen an
object like this on a stereo photo."Dr. Arthur J. Brandenburger, world famous expert in photogrammetry
"The detractors call it the boat shaped object. I find that an apt description of a boat."
Author, David Allen Deal
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