Section 1 Chapter 4 – Physical, circumstantial, and spiritual evidence
In this chapter we offer several photos that reveal a large quantity of the physical evidence from the many years of research conducted by not only Ron Wyatt, but the many associates that followed in his path. Ron never believed that the research belonged to himself or anyone for that matter. He often referred to it as God’s show and tell. Certainly, there is much at stake concerning the salvation of the world and this evidence was designed to confront the world with the validity of Scripture, that all might make a choice to accept or reject the free gift of salvation.
As you can see there is a lot to consider with the object displayed on Doomsday Mountain. Not only is there the boat itself (the physical evidence), but as Noah and some of his family survived the cleansing flood, their lives continued on in a very different world. For Noah that was an additional 350 years after the flood. So, as they would go about rebuilding society there would be circumstantial evidence playing a supporting role to verify the events of the story that had developed.
They would have of necessity had to live close to the ship for a period of time. Obviously, there would be major bodies of water on the planet’s surface now to contend with, plus scripture indicates God used wind to help bury the anti-diluvian world and dry up the surface as much as possible. The highlands near where the ship first landed would satisfy their immediate needs thus constituting the first post-flood settlement. So, further up the mountain we should find some physical evidence of that settlement. This area, being close to the Iranian boarder is classified by the Turkish Government as a military zone. This means that it is usually off limits especially to tourist, the only way to examine these areas is with military permission and a military escort. This is what assisted Ron and what we were able to utilize as well in an examination of the area above the boat’s current location.
The circumstantial evidence we find further up the ridge is what one might expect. There are remains of stone foundations for buildings, we found 2 altars, Ron discovered the stones that had been used to create a Steele (pictogramed altar), which displayed 8 survivors in a boat with a rainbow over them and a bird in flight also. Plus, pictograms of non-indigenous animals carved onto cave walls near the ridge. The unusable thing about the carvings was their placement on the walls. They were about 14’ off the cave floor, indicating whoever put them there was possibly quite tall, (Noah was likely about 15’ in height). The important thing to remember is that it is not one singular piece of evidence that verifies the story, but the collective abundant amount that points to the most likely conclusion.
Other circumstantial evidence exists not only near the village of Arzep, with multiple drogue stones and ancient homestead, but due to the Coriolis effect (The Coriolis Effect—the deflection of an object moving on or near the surface caused by the planet’s spin), there are drogue stones further west, indicating the ship was floating west to east and dropping stones as it went. Since Arzep is a plateau area compared to the entirety of the valley, the ship must have bottomed out there and was forced to cut free several stones.
One thing that links the size of the ship with the area near Arzep is the unearthed stone sarcophagus that was reported to be 18’ in length. The curator at the mineral mining museum in Ankara told us years ago that it must have been a 2-person sarcophagus. A two person sarcophagus end-to-end, that would be odd, I would imagine a 2 person unit would be side-to-side. They had the stone coffin in the back room and would not put it on display since it would raise to many questions that they had no answers for. It was reported that in the sarcophagus there was just one large skeletal remain with a gold/jeweled headdress, waist band and wrist band. I saw the pictures of a large jaw bones in a curio cabinet in a hotel lobby in the city of Dogubayazit. Grave robbers were after the gold and jewels, but the real value was the supersized remains.
As we move to the spiritual evidence, this is what seals the deal for me. What do I mean Spiritual evidence? In stead of a simple definition let me tell it in a true account that occurred on one of our tours to the site.
We had the wonderful opportunity to accompany a group from New Zealand on one of our tours to the area. They of course were very excited with the possibility of examining what had been reported to be the remains of Noah’s Ark. It is one thing to hear about such a find or even see pictures that seem to verify the discovery, but to actually be there is like being taken back in time and watching the construction of the ship. The Scriptures come to life as only such an artifact can achieve. After examining the unique features still visible of the craft for about an hour, we decided to take a water break and relax for a few moments. As we had found ourselves at the stern with a comfortable place to set, I began to notice the sun had started on its decent lowering in the western sky. It was if the stage had been intentionally set due to the way the light was highlighting the area of the original landing area, we could see it very clearly. This was my opportunity to present to the group the spiritual evidence.
I started by asking them to share with the group some of the physical evidence they had seen thus-far. A couple of folks in the group began to share, its always interesting to hear the various perspectives. After that quick review I added some of the circumstantial evidence that we had seen just a day before in Arzep. Everyone was listening very politely and nodding in agreement, but when I inquired about the spiritual evidence, there was total silence with every eye turned in my direction. This was something new to them, they sat there with an awe of expectation, like baby birds with their little beaks turned upward waiting to be fed.
Since the lighting was perfect now, I directed their attention up the ridge to the area of the original landfall. Their eyes followed the direction I was pointing as if one of those red laser pointers had illuminated the location. Then I began to explain what had taken place to the remains perhaps thousands of years ago. The ship you’re sitting on landed higher up ridge, nestled and cradled within those protective hills. They were listening to my voice while still gazing up the ridge. At some point in time a volcanic blast had knocked the ship loose from that position. I pointed to the partial caldera just across the Turkish border that was most likely the agent God used to wash the ship to its current location. It was the mud, rock, debris, and Lehar that swallowed up the boat and washed it down through the rugged, gulley-riddled hillside to its current location.
When the ship reached this location on its trek, it was impaled in the side, held fast and eventually buried as the debris piled against it. It was out of sight for a period of time being preserved in the darkness, but in 1949 and more so in 1978, it came forth from an earthquake, a testimony that with God, life finds its way. Everybody was quiet just taking in the scene around them. I give them a few minutes to take it all in and then broke the silence with a question, what have I just described? They were a bit taken by the question, no one dared voice an answer, there was a surreal curiosity now though and some began to stand to get a little closer, their hearts and minds seemed very open to what it was that really the Spirit of God wanted to share.
What I have just described was exactly what our Savior experienced when coming to this planet to save us. Remember, Noah’s Ark was a rescue ship, indeed a very symbol of salvation, its purpose was to save humanity, its why we can stand here today. The Son of God, like the ship came down from an exalted position (Heaven). It was the muck, the sin, the filth and evil of this world that swept him to an incarnate experience. His motivation was an inexplicable love. Christ however, lived a perfect exemplar live, an innocent, righteous man that was despised, abused, hung on a cross, pierced in the side, buried in the earth and came forth after an earthquake. The remains of this very ship that you are standing on experienced the very same. This is the spiritual evidence that has unfolded before our eyes over the last 30 years. What has occurred to this boat is no coincidence, it has occurred just as it was intended, to illustrate highlights of the Saviors mission to rescue humanity. The events are miraculous, if spiritual eyes are open than you will realize what an amazing God it is we serve.
The group, now standing, just stood there in silence, letting the frequency of my words vibrate through their souls. It was a most solemn moment that we hoped we could endure. To think that God would allow us, an opportunity to experience something so surreal, it was for the moment as if we were in His very presence. For certain, angels of God had joined the group to inspire us with a sense of awe. It was as if the Father and Son were smiling on us, because we believed and appreciated the great sacrifice and spiritual evidence left in plain sight and we were standing right on it. All they could eventually say was, praise God! Nothing else needed to be said!