A 440-year-old world map is sparking renewed discussion about the potential final resting place of Noah’s Ark, following the discovery of a remarkable hidden detail within the artwork by researchers.
The extensive map, crafted by Italian cartographer Urbano Monte in 1587, appears to depict the biblical vessel situated high in the Ararat mountains, located in present-day Turkey.
Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT Get the day’s biggest headlines in UK and World news and more Subscribe Invalid email
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
This very region has been the subject of decades of speculation regarding the enigmatic Durupınar Formation, a vast landform shaped like a boat that many researchers have long contended is connected to Noah’s Ark.
The resurgence of interest is attributed to the Book of Genesis, which specifies that the Ark came to rest on the “mountains of Ararat” subsequent to the Great Flood.
Why are researchers linking the ancient map to Noah’s Ark?
Online investigators promptly identified parallels between Monte’s illustration and the positioning of the Durupınar site in eastern Turkey.
Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT
Independent researcher Jimmy Corsetti commented online: “The same location as the Durupinar site, virtually the exact same length. Coincidence?”
Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT
The formation is situated approximately 18 miles south of Mount Ararat and has garnered international attention since the mid-20th century.
According to local accounts, the formation’s unusual shape became more apparent after severe weather and earthquakes affected the area in 1948, leading to assertions that the site bore a resemblance to the outline of an enormous vessel.
Proponents of the theory frequently reference biblical dimensions that describe Noah’s Ark as being 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high—measurements commonly estimated at around 515 feet by 86 feet.
Certain researchers posit that the Durupınar Formation generally aligns with these proportions.
Read more: Noah’s Ark boffin finds ‘mysterious tunnels and chemical proof’ of Biblical site
Read more: Lost plane of pioneer Amelia Earhart has been ‘found’ near ‘secluded island’
What have recent scans of the Durupınar site found?
Interest in the location escalated once more after the Noah’s Ark Scans research team commenced surveying the site utilizing contemporary radar and thermal imaging techniques.
As reported by the Daily Mail, the team recently asserted that subterranean scans revealed peculiar voids and structured areas beneath the surface.
Researcher Andrew Jones indicated that ground-penetrating radar seemed to expose a configuration of corridors leading towards a larger hollow space below ground level.
“What’s intriguing is that these voids are aligned beneath the soil, and they are not merely random,” he stated to GB News.
“These passages also adhere to a particular pattern. GPR simply provides a means to examine beneath the soil using radar.”
Jones further claimed that infrared thermography scans suggested a substantial ship-like form might be concealed underground.
Nevertheless, numerous scientists and geologists maintain that the formation is a naturally occurring geological feature and that definitive proof of Noah’s Ark ever being discovered is still lacking.
Why is the Urbano Monte map so unusual?
Monte’s monumental Planisphere was created during an era when European explorers were rapidly expanding the geographical knowledge of the world.
In contrast to many maps from the 16th century, this work was conceived from a perspective directly above the North Pole, placing the Arctic region at its core.
The map itself is composed of 60 individual sheets that can be assembled to form a vast circular image measuring nearly 10 feet in diameter.
It includes intricate drawings of vessels, marine life, and distant lands, reflecting the European perception of the wider world during the Age of Exploration.
Historians surmise that Monte developed a keen interest in global geography after a Japanese delegation visited Milan in the 1580s.
Currently, the original map is housed at Stanford University’s David Rumsey Map Center, where it has undergone digital restoration for online public access.