103 lines
4.0 KiB
Plaintext
103 lines
4.0 KiB
Plaintext
Excavation pictures may reveal Noah's Ark
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by Andrew Turner
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ADELAIDE: An archaeologist has released graphic photos of the
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excavation of a vessel believed to be Noah's Ark.
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Mr Jonathan Gray says the latest discoveries at the site near Mt.
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Ararat on the Iran-Turkey border confirm it is one of history's most
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significant archaeological finds.
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And the vessel's measurements are believed to conform almost exactly
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with the 300 by 50 by 30 cubits (a cubit is about 50cm) specified by God
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when he gave the building instructions to Noah in chapter 6 of the book
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of Genesis.
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The Turkish government, which ordered the excavation of the site, is
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taking the find so seriously it is constructing a viewing platform and a
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four-lane highway in preparation for the predicted tourist boom.
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Mr Gray, who has returned from the site, became involved in the
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excavation about two years ago.
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"There were some people who tended to suggest that it was just a freak
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of nature, a big rock formation." he said.
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"I am a sceptic by nature. two years ago, I was a big sceptic but I
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wanted to satisfy myself about this as I am so interested in
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archaeology.
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"There is enough evidence for anyone who really wants the truth. But
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we hope to be able to excavate enough of the remains to convince even
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the most hardened sceptic."
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According to the Bible, the craft was built after Noah was chosen by
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God to perpetuate the human race after floods devastated the earth. Mr
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Gray says the flood occured about 2345 BC.
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Noah, his wife, his three sons and their wifes and male and female
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specimens of animals were said to have been at sea for 13 months before
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floodwaters receded enough for them to return to land.
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Mr Gray is set to return to the site later this year when underground
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investigation begins.
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Originally he was called in to confirm that the relic was
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archaeological and not natural.
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This week he released detailed pictures of the site and relics
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discovered during the latest dig, which concluded late last year.
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In modern-day dimensions, the three-storey "ark" is about 150m long,
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30m wide and 15m tall.
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Mr Gray said the vessel, found about 2000m above sea level, was
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covered by about 2.5m of mud, caused by a volcanic eruption.
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Earthquakes in 1958 and 1977 had forced it to the surface, enabling
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detailed investigations to begin.
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Mr Gray said radar tests on the site had revealed a structure in the
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ground, animal remains, rivets and other outlines.
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The body of the "hull" has been lifted out of the ground about 6m and
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the structure extends about 8m underground.
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"It has all the characteristics of the ark as described in the old
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records," Mr Gray said. "The structure shows rooms and passageways and
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doors and ramps."
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Hunter says his cynicism is gone
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-!------------------------------
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Jonathan Gray was sceptical when he was told archaeologists had
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discovered what they believed was Noah's ark.
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After 26 years in the field, he joined American ark hunter Ron Wyatt.
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Mr Gray said his cynicism vanished.
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"There is enough evidence for anyone who really wants the truth. But
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we hope to be able to excavate enough of the remains to convince even
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the most hardened sceptic."
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No more work will be carried out on the Mt Ararat site, about 2000m
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above sea level, until May when a thick layer of snow has melted.
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Mr Gray says that when a collection of metal rivets, timber samples
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and animal remains appeared after 1991, archaeologists knew they had
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"the real thing".
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Subsequent testing confirmed the age and composition of the relics.
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The hull's 7m ribs and detailed room structures and animal remains
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were found during an expedition led by Mr Gray from October to December
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last year. One of the most startling discoveries was part of a pair of
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deer antlers.
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"There is a base of one," Mr Gray says.
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"It would indicate that there was an animal inside that boat-shaped,
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man-made object that shed its antler during the time it was in that
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vessel."
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