Gary A. Byers<\/b><\/p>\n
After 20 years of research, a modern-day explorer recently made an adventurous solo incursion into remote southeastern Turkey searching for the facts and remains of Noah and his Ark. Reminiscent of a 19th century explorer, Dr. Charles Willis traversed a region kept in turmoil by renegade local terrorist groups. Here Willis believes he located and photographed for the first time the tomb of Noah.<\/p>\n
A veteran explorer to the region and a neuropsy chiatrist by trade, Willis has led four expeditions up Mt. Ararat, the traditional site of the landing of Noah\u2019s Ark. Yet, the results of his investigation on that mountain, as well as years of research into historical sources, suggested to him that Ararat is not the mountain of Noah or the Ark.<\/p>\n
Willis with his team at Mt. Ararat, where his investigation with radar, ice drill and trenching operations produced no evidence.<\/b><\/p>\n
Furthermore, Willis does not believe the Ark is even intact. Noting the great time period since the event, the harsh topography, geology and meteorology of the region, and the Ark being a natural source of building material for generations, Willis does not expect to find any major portions still intact. Furthermore, despite all the reports of sightings, none have been substantiated by later exploration\/investigation. \u201cThose who continue to look for the Ark on Ararat are looking in the wrong place for the wrong thing,\u201d Willis said.<\/p>\n
His research suggests the mountain known today as Mt. Cudi is the best candidate for the Ark landing and the subsequent settlement of Noah and his family. Here, too, he believes Noah died and was buried. Called by different names over the years, including Mt. Ararat, Mt. Judi, Mt. Nisir, Mt. Nipir and Mt. Lubar, it is neither as high as Ararat nor as snow covered and treacherous most of the year. It was on this mountain\u2019s Ark plateau in 1953, a few miles from the <\/p>\n
BSP<\/i> 11:3 (Summer 1998) p. 58<\/p>\n
site Willis believes is Noah\u2019s tomb, that German professor Friedrich Bender discovered pieces of wood he believed came from Noah\u2019s Ark. The samples carbon-dated to 4500 BC.<\/p>\n
Facade of Noah\u2019s tomb on Mt Cudi in southeast Turkey, according to Dr. Charles Willis.<\/b><\/p>\n
The Ark is not the real focus of Willis\u2019 exploration. Evidence of Noah and his family in their post-Flood community is where Willis is concentrating. The structure he is looking for is the tomb of Father Noah, as Willis likes to refer to the ancient mariner. \u201cAfter all,\u201d Willis said, \u201cthe whole human race comes from Noah by way of his three sons\u2014so he is the Father of us all.\u201d<\/p>\n
Modern local tradition places the grave of Noah on the southern slope of Mt. Cudi. In 1911, British explorer Gertrude Bell recorded the location of Noah\u2019s tomb on the mountain. She wrote \u201cI ought to have completed the pilgrimage by visiting his (Noah\u2019s) grave, but it lay far down upon the southern slopes of Judi Dagh.\u201d In addition, the ancient Book of Jubilees<\/i> states \u201cNoah slept with his fathers and was buried on Mt. Lubar in the Land of Ararat\u201d (10:13\u201317). One of the region\u2019s major cities lies just north of the mountain, Sirnak. \u201cSirnak,\u201d Willis noted, comes from Sehri-Nuh<\/i> or \u201ccity of Noah.\u201d<\/p>\n
His recent trip up Mt. Cudi included traveling alone, staying in a local village and befriending its chief, sleeping under armed guards and carrying an AK-47, a gift from the village chief, for protection. From his accommodations in the village, Willis could see the ruins of Heshton (\u201cVillage of the Eight\u201d?), site of the first Noahic village according to local tradition. The site identified as Noah\u2019s tomb is in a solitary location on a gentle slope of the mountain\u2019s south side. It is overgrown and undisturbed. Cut out of solid rock as a horizontal cave, it has a facade of built stone.<\/p>\n
Inside the tomb, Willis believes he may find texts from the early post-Flood period. But his real hope is to find some antedeluvian written material. \u201cI know that most scholars do not believe that man wrote that early, but there are ancient references to pre-Flood texts,\u201d he said. \u201cIt seems reasonable Noah would have taken into the Ark any pre-Flood archives available to him. That would be the real find from Noah\u2019s Ark.\u201d<\/p>\n
In conjunction with the Ancient World Foundation, Willis intends to mount a multidisciplinary campaign to the site of Noah\u2019s tomb in the near future. He hopes his team of geologists, archaeologists, anthropologists and linguists will be able to study the area, excavate the tomb, examine remains and decipher ancient texts.<\/p>\n
For further information:<\/i> Dr. Charles D. Willis, Ancient World Foundation, P.O. Box 3118, Pinedale CA 93650.<\/p>\n
Bibliography<\/b><\/p>\n
Bell, G. L.<\/b><\/p>\n
1911 Amurath to Amurath<\/i>. New York.<\/p>\n
Bender, F.<\/b><\/p>\n
1956 Kosmos<\/i> 52: 149\u201355.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Gary A. Byers After 20 years of research, a modern-day explorer recently made an adventurous solo incursion into remote southeastern Turkey searching for the facts and remains of Noah and his Ark. Reminiscent of a 19th century explorer, Dr. Charles Willis traversed a region kept in turmoil by renegade local terrorist groups. Here Willis believes … Continue reading “IS
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