A mysterious formation high in the mountains of eastern Turkey has long fueled speculation that it could be the final resting place of Noah's Ark.

Now, researchers who believe they have identified signs of a massive man-made structure buried beneath the site have received official approval to put their theory to the test.

The team behind Noah's Ark Scans announced that its Turkish partner has secured government permits to conduct what it describes as the most comprehensive scientific investigation ever undertaken at the Durupinar Formation near Mount Ararat.

The expedition will include non-destructive core drilling, advanced remote-sensing technology, next-generation imaging systems and an underground drone named 'Gopher' designed to map what lies beneath the surface.

In a statement announcing the approval, the group said it hopes to provide the world with 'irrefutable proof' that the formation is the authentic resting place of Noah's Ark.

The researchers have previously used ground-penetrating radar to scan more than 20 feet below the site, identifying what they describe as angular structures and hidden voids that they believe are inconsistent with a natural geological formation.

Noah's Ark Scans fundraiser Lauren Witzke said: 'This is not merely a scientific expedition; this is confirmation that one of the most scoffed-at stories in history, Noah's Ark, is real, as is the God who inspired it and, in His wrath and mercy, sent the flood for which it was needed.'

The expedition is scheduled to begin later this year, with preliminary findings expected to be released as data is processed and verified.

'This historic authorization marks the first time in modern history that a dedicated international team has been officially cleared to perform extensive, non-destructive investigations at the site using revolutionary new scanning and imaging technologies never before applied to this site,' the team shared in the release. 

Located just 18 miles south of Mount Ararat, Turkey's highest peak, the Durupinar Formation has only been known to the modern world for less than a century.

According to local reports, heavy rains and earthquakes in May 1948 washed away the surrounding mud, revealing the mysterious formation. It was then discovered by a Kurdish shepherd.

The Bible states that Noah's Ark came to rest on the 'mountains of Ararat' after a 150-day flood that drowned the Earth and every living creature not sheltered inside the wooden vessel.

What is intriguing is that the formation sits near a mountain with a peak that some believe matches the ark's shape and dimensions.

The idea that the ark landed on Mount Ararat has long sparked debate.

While many scientists argue that the formation is a naturally occurring geological feature, others are convinced it points to something far more extraordinary.

The team at Noah's Ark Scans firmly believes the latter.

Jones previously told the Daily Mail: 'Naturally, an object would not form this way with the pointed end uphill,' said Jones.

'Per fluid dynamics, if this was an obstruction naturally forming around a rock in the earth or mud flow, then the pointed end would be downhill and the rounded end would be uphill.'

Jones added that he and his team have uncovered a tunnel that is not filled in, which leads to a big central void, a room that goes much further down that is square shaped.'

'Some people have theorized that Noah's Ark had a multi-level big atrium to let the light and air circulate between the three decks,' said the researcher.

He noted that a key development in the investigation was the discovery of different soil inside the mysterious formation.

Inside, the soil is less alkaline, has more organic matter and contains more potassium, which is what would be expected from decaying wood, like an ancient wooden boat, which lowers pH and adds carbon and potassium, said Jones.

'Tests show these soil differences (pH, organic matter and potassium) are real, with less than a five percent chance they're random, giving 95 percent confidence that something like a decayed wooden ship is causing them,' he added.

Biblical measurements describe the ark as 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide and 30 cubits high - that's approximately 515 feet long, 86 feet wide and 52 feet tall.

The measurements of the formation in Turkey appear to match those given in the Bible.

He and his team at Noah's Ark Scans have been exploring the mysterious mound since 2019, using modern technology to peer deep below the surface.

The void first appears about 14 feet below the surface and stretches more than 39 feet, according to the scans.

Jones explained that the space extends from the center of the boat-like structure toward its tip, ending where a large boulder was detected.

'The tunnel then drops another 26 feet, connecting to a massive central room that we're seeing in the radar scans,' he said.

'Our assumption is that this could be part of Noah's Ark, possibly the central hall and some of the decks. There's definitely something preserved underground.'

Jones suggested the tunnel may have served as a main hallway, providing access to rooms meant for the animals brought aboard the vessel. 

'In the Biblical account, it doesn't say Noah's Ark landed on Mount Ararat; it says the mountains, plural, of Ararat,' Jones explained.

'Back in those days, Ararat was an ancient kingdom. So it would be like saying today that Noah's Ark landed in the mountains of Colorado. It's referring to a region of mountains, not one specific peak, and our site fits within that location.'

The other leading possible spot is on top of Mount Ararat, though there hasn't been any evidence found.

From as early as the 4th century, Christian tradition began identifying Mount Ararat in modern-day Turkey as the ark’s resting place.

Josephus, a 1st-century Jewish historian, also wrote that remains of the ark were still visible in the mountains of Armenia, further solidifying the association with Mount Ararat.