Claim CH503.2:
The Turkish government has officially recognized the structure near
Dogubayazit as Noah's ark. It has made the area a national park and is
building a visitor center and a highway to it, adding additional credence
to the claim that Noah's ark has been found.
Source:
Wyatt, R. E., 1989. Discovered - Noah's Ark. Nashville, TN: World
Bible
Society.
Response:
- There are reasons why a government might recognize the site as Noah's
ark even if there is little evidence that it is so. First, turning the
area into a park would protect it from exploitation. Second, it allows
the government to get the benefit of tourist dollars. Recognizing the
site as Noah's ark indicates that the Turkish government expects the
site to be famous, not necessarily genuine.
- There is no evidence that the Turkish authorities did any independent
investigation of the site. If they did not, their recognition of the
site is merely a repeat of the claims of Wyatt, Fasold, and the other
arkeologists. It gives no additional authority to the claim.
Further Reading:
Collins, L. G. and D. F. Fasold, 1996. Bogus "Noah's Ark" from Turkey
exposed as a common geologic structure. Journal of Geoscience
Education
44(4): 439-444. http://www.csun.edu/~vcgeo005/bogus.html
created 2001-2-18
