Ark Research Project:
Search for Noah's Ark

Ark Research Project Newsletter - January/February 1999

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ INTRODUCTION ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Noah's Ark and the Media. If it were not for the media, if it were not for the books, movies and news reports, most of us would know little if not anything about the search for Noah's Ark. It is the media which brings us the information to make decisions and learn more about ongoing efforts to locate this legendary artifact. It is also the media which can make "stars" out of ordinary people. If we are not careful, human pride, self-centeredness and vanity can supersede a pure and noble purpose. To give glory to man and his efforts, and ignore the glory of God, is wrong. The media tends to do this.

Often grand news announcements of astonishing discoveries of Noah's Ark make the headlines and come without substance and proof. Such as, shadows and lines in the ice being heralded as Noah's Ark. When this happens, one should question the motives for such a news release. We are told to test the spirits (1 John 4:1). You will know when Noah's Ark has been found when you see a photo or video image that confirms the piles of anecdotal evidence. This has not yet happened. No photo of Noah's Ark has been revealed to the public which confirms its existence.

To be part of an endeavor that boasts the "greatest archaeological find ever", men must be very careful not to let arrogance hide the real truth. This could be one of several stumbling blocks to the revelation of the Ark in our time. Humility is but one key.

With today's instant television coverage such news will spread around the world. Today, television, newspaper and Internet feed the news to the world. This media can be a two-edged sword. On one side, sharing information with the world, on the other, a chance for publicity and focus on self or "Look what I have done!"

Today as our team tries to raise funds for the expedition, we are hit with another focus on self, "What's in it for me!" After our October trip to Turkey, we began to see that we were not there for ourselves but there for others. We were there for you, your neighbor and your enemy. We were not there for ourselves.

We are now inviting you to be a part of this effort. Step aside from your world and look to that of others. Lend your hand and help us in this effort. Please support us in prayer and in funding.

God knows exactly where the Ark is. It is believed that some Kurds know exactly where the Ark is also. But the Kurds protect the Ark from the world. And, they reason, the world wants to worship the physical, something they can see, this is idolatry. Only God can be worshipped and only God can be worshipped in spirit and truth (Gal 10:1).

Ark Research Project has a media plan to help interested people like you and others. As our team proceeds, we plan to produce a documentary on recent efforts to locate the Ark. In it, we will provide the viewer with information that helps them understand and learn more. It will not raise one religion higher than the other. It will inform and bring all viewers up to date without hype and self-glory. It will present facts and information and draw the viewer into the struggle to locate this amazing artifact.

To aid you in your study, I have added a new Web page, "Photos, Books and Videos". (See www.arksearch.com/napublic.htm) Each section of this "media" Web page will help you in your study and point you to a location on the Web where you might be able to purchase such media items for your own use.

Matthew Kneisler

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ YOUR THOUGHTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Words of encouragement, shared interest and enthusiasm are great ways to share your thoughts with us. However, due to the volume of email, it is nearly impossible to "personally" respond to all letters. If you would like a response from your email, please let us know and we will try our best to do so accordingly. Here are a few letters straight and mostly unedited from you:

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Previously I have e-mailed to you about the excellent works that you have done concerning the Noah's Ark.

I am a Muslim. The story about Noah or Nuh in Arabic, and also about the Great Flood or Deluge have been mentioned in both Bible and Holy Qur'an.

As a muslim, we being taught in religious classes about past prophets and patriachs. Nuh or Noah is one of them. ...

I believe that every religion alwaysteach us to be kind and tolerant to other religion.

If the true Noah's Ark location could be found, it would be the greatest achievement of all three main religions which have been splitted due to human errors (Islam, Christians and Judaism).

... Good luck to you, and as a muslim I wish God will always give you guidance and illumination in your search.

Wassalam, Good Luck and Shalom... KK 11/14/98

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Thank you so much for adding me to your mailing list. I very much enjoyed reading the newsletter. I haven't seen the photo of Mt. Ararat with the rainbow yet, but can get goosebumps just imagining it. If I were not a "poor graduate student," I would assuredly donate money to your very meaningful quest. In fact, I would want to be involved personally. I would be willing to risk my life to help find the Ark of Noah. Sincerely, SSC 11/15/98

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As a Muslim I am very excited by the prospect of finding Noah's Ark. I believe that it is a mercy from God that this ancient relic has been preserved in those high peaks. I wish to thank you for this very informative web site that gives concise and impartial information concerning the Ark.

I hope that you will continue the excellent work and will update the site regulary so that I may be informed of any new developments.

I believe that when it is finally found and uncovered, people of faith will be brought together like never before and Muslims as well as Christians will be united.

Peace and may Allah( God ) bless the truth seekers.

Regards. AS 11/16/98

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I read with much interest your expedition to Mt Ararat. I write to seek permission to put some of your web pages(on the correspondence between you and the US govt) onto a diskette we are distributing as part of a vacation bible study publiucation.

God strengthen your team as you all seek to glorify Him.

OWS Singapore 11/16/98

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Congratulations on your extremely informative home page on Noah's Ark, and also best wishes for your future expeditions.

RS Tour Guide Turkish Ministry of Tourism 11/21/98

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Just a thank you...As always I enjoy this website so much and appreciate the information. I do not need to see the Ark revealed. I believe the Bible...the Lord. But, as you state..it is for others.. I find the Design of the Lord so fascinating, and the unraveling of that Design, well, awesome. thanks again for the hard work. A friend, OA 11/16/98

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I just found your web page "Noah's Ark: Just For Laughs" and was delighted with the kids' comments. I write a newsletter for the employees of the Heritage Store in ... VA. I always try to incorporate some humor on the page. Would you grant permission to reprint some if not all the comments on your web page. I know the employees (fewer than 70) would really appreciate it. ... Sincerely, PV 12/1/98

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I am lost in your web of terrific work - my hewlett is burning up as i have printed so much of your information and am saving it. i can go from one page to the next with all the extra in between. i am very interested in your website. please keep us informed on the latest. excellent reading.

thanks! 12/14/98

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hi..i just wanted to say i really like your website its so interesting..and made me an even stronger christian! now i can witness to my friends at school some info on 'evolution' cuz they had some questions that i found answers on your page..thanks have a nice day, God Bless :) 12/15/98

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Please add me to your newsletter mailing list, I would like to recieve as much info there is possible. I am absolutely glued to your website, thank you for keeping us informed. CS 12/24/98

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I find it mindblowing that I can be a part of your quest to find Noah's Ark, be it only on the newsletter mailing list. It's incredible to be kept up to date about something that in most people's minds must only be a bible story, and not an actual physical part of human history.

... The photos are wonderful, and a rainbow over Mt. Ararat's peak I would surely have taken as a sign that I was doing something very right. You are - I can only think of the word LUCKY - to be part of these expeditions.

... I look forward to more updates. Thanks once again. LZ 12/9/98

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"keep up the great work a very good page and very well explained! good presentation" cs 11/12/98

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My name is .... & I'm writing you all from Phoenix, AZ. I just heard recently from my mother that she read somwhere that there was rumer that Noah's Ark had been found. Naturally, my curiosity & excitment went through the roof & had to look on the WEB for any new info. regarding this extraordinary search. I was disappointed that there wasn't more "current" info bits, but the newsletter & photos from the last few months were enough to bring tears to my eyes with joy that the will of God is finally here..& that I'm around to see it. What a BLESSING!!! I want to wish you well as you all continue your search, I pray for your your continuing safety & health. You are truely blessed to be there, I wish I could join you all in God's dirt! Have Fun & be well. LA 1/16/98

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I read your newsletter and thought it was very informative. I do hope that you get to your goal. You sent the hair standing on my neck also with your description of the rainbow appearing. What an experience to see that site!!!!! I am just a 53 year mature woman who was introduced to the bible and God when I was seven. The search for Noah's Ark has always interested me and I have read of the searches and the difficulty of getting to search the site due to the troubles in the land there. Now with my computer I can keep up with the searches. I sure wish I were a man and younger so that I too could go one of the searches. Good luck on your next search and God go with you. You will have many prayers with you. Sincerely, JM 1/17/98

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FROM THE DIRECTOR ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Ark Research Project faces the new year with the prospect of maybe this will be the year the Noah's Ark will be discovered. The planning continues with this goal in mind. We would appreciate your continued prayer and financial support.

Some of you have asked the question, if you find the Ark how will you know for sure that it is Noah's Ark. This question became part of a two fold purpose for finding the Ark. Phase one is the discovery and scientific analysis of the Ark. The world will hold the discoverer responsible for proving that the discovery is actually Noah's Ark.

In Genesis chapter six is recorded detailed instructions that God told Noah for constructing the Ark. Let us examine some of these details:

1. Gen. 6:14 says that the Ark was to be constructed of gopher wood. What is this gopher wood? Some authorities suggest that it is a type of cypress, while others suggest that it is type of oak. Still others have suggested that the Hebrew word for gopher means a laminated or layered type of wood like plywood. Examination of the actual wood would solve this problem.

This verse mentions that rooms were to be constructed in the Ark. The Hebrew word for rooms can also be translated to include nests or cages. There are reports from past sightings of the Ark that cages and living quarters were observed. How were the living quarters and cages constructed? Was there any metal used in the construction such as hinges and cage doors? If so, the metal could be examined for its metallurgy. There are pre-flood artifacts made of metal which we know the metallurgy which could be compared with the iron of the Ark. Scripture mentions in Gen. 4:22 that Tubal-Cain was a craftsman in bronze and iron.

Finally, this verse mentions that the Ark was to be covered with pitch within and without. Pitching the outside is necessary for water proofing but doing it on the inside would seem to indicate that maybe the wood was to be preserved. Very interesting.

2. Gen: 6:15 mentions the precise dimensions of the Ark. It was to be 300 cubits long ( 450 ft. if the short cubit is used of 17.5 inches). This would be the length of a football field and a half. Fifty cubits (75 ft.) was the width or the equivalent of an 7 or 8 story apartment building. The height was to be thirty cubits ( 45 ft.) Remember, [according to secular thought] Noah is supposed to have dreamed up these dimensions and the whole story is supposed to be allegory not to be taken literal.

When these dimensions are studied by constructing models some very interesting data are produced. The ratio of the length to width (6:1) and the length to height (10:1) is what modern ship builders use to construct large ocean vessels. When a model of the Ark was subjected to stormy wave action in a tank it automatically propelled itself headfirst into the waves ( the right shape) and would have to be tilted almost 90 degrees before capsizing. Where did Noah obtain these dimensions? Examination of the discovered Ark would confirm or deny these dimensions.

3. Verse 16 says that Noah was told by God to make a window in the Ark finishing it a cubit (17.5 in.) above. The Hebrew indicates that this could be a skylight and appears as the superstructure in many sketches of the Ark. This would probably be a source for the ventilation of the Ark. Did these windows have a covering to prevent water from entering? More questions to be answered.

This verse also mentions a door to be constructed in the side. Sketches of sightings show a door in the side. How was this positioned and constructed to keep the interior water tight? God is mentioned in the scriptures (7:16) as closing this door. Did God seal it after closing it? All of this can be confirmed when the Ark is discovered. Noah is mentioned in Gen 8:13 as removing the covering (roof) of the Ark. Did the occupants disembark from this area? Was the door not used? Again, questions that could be answered upon the discovery of the Ark which would confirm or deny if this is really the Ark of the Bible.

Three decks were to be constructed. What was in the bottom deck? I am hypothesizing that this is where waste was stored and maybe other items. Again, a thorough examination would tell us how each deck was utilized and if there were actually three decks.

One can see as we look at the scriptures that the instructions are very precise. It should be very easy to verify these instructions. Of course, many samples will be taken such as: 1. Animal waste samples to be studied for the type of diet. 2. Wood samples taken for Carbon-14 dating, type of wood.

A complete photographic and video documentation of the vessel will be carried out to include infra-red and ultra violet.

This would be some of what would be involved in phase one of the project. Phase two would be to show the world through a video documentary the discovery along with the results of the analysis. If this is the Ark of the Bible, then mankind originated from Noah and his family and not from apes. The evolutionary account would be rendered invalid. The biblical account would be verified. What Christ had to say about the days of Noah in Matt. 24:37 which are to be repeated in the day or time when Christ returns for His church (believers) would now be also true. People who have dismissed the story of Noah as fable will look at the documentary which would prove the story of Noah. They then would have to make a choice to accept the Christ of the Bible as their source of salvation. Christ said that when we see the days of Noah being repeated, that is when He would return to the clouds of the air ( I Thess. 4:13-18) to Rapture his church. The dead in Christ would rise first followed by the believers who are alive. This is the message that I believe the Lord wishes to bring to the world through the discovery of the Ark.

The days of Noah are here. Look up for your redemption is near.

Prof, James L. Hall, Director Ark Research Project

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ OTHER NEWS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hot Off The Press!! A member of our team, BJ Corbin, has just completed a book entitled, "THE EXPLORERS OF ARARAT - And The Search For Noah's Ark". You can learn more about this book at:

http://www.noahsarksearch.com http://www.greatcommission.com

This book is a composite of several "explorer" stories. Each of the previous Noah's Ark explorers discuss their experiences and in so doing, presents the human element of a cold and rugged search for an incredible artifact.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LAST THOUGHT ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In his book, "Just Build the Ark and the Animals Will Come", David Heller asks this question, "What did the rainbow symbolize for God in his communication with future generations?"

"That God was a supporter of drawing and the arts." Clare, age 10 "A rainbow is a celebration in heaven. When it rains, God is crying and when it thunders, God is yelling at the angels. But a rainbow is more like a holiday." Sheila, age 9 "Rainbows always mean: 'Everything is going to be okay from now on.' " Janet, age 10

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THE WEB ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Most of the information presented here about Ark Research Project is available at our Web site:

http://www.arksearch.com/arp

In time, we plan to revise this address to reflect the organizational name. For now, it provides a means to allow the world to see the efforts of the team and organization.

OTHER WEB SITES

The Search For Noah's Ark by Matthew Kneisler http://www.arksearch.com

Noah's Ark Home Page by BJ Corbin http://www.noahsarksearch.com

The Noah's Ark Project by Douglas Peterson http://user.mc.net/dougp/noahs_ark/

Noah's Ark Website And Shipyard by David O'Neil http://www.geocities.com/ResearchTriangle/6039/

Detailed Research on the Logistics of Noah's Ark by John Woodmorappe http://www.users.bigpond.com/webfx/cyber/johnw.htm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THE PURPOSE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ark Research Project was an officially recognized United States organization in February 1998, when it received non-profit tax-exempt status from the IRS. The organizational purpose is to, "conduct research into locating the legendary Noah's Ark of the Bible. The revelation of the existence of such an archaeological and religious object would be of utmost scientific, religious, and educational value to the people of the United States and the World."

The Ark Research Project team is planing an expedition to Mount Ararat in northeastern Turkey in 1999. Team members are listed below.

	James Hall : profhall@cwix.com
		Director 
	William Shea,PhD : 74617,2245@compuserve.com
		Supervisor of all Archaeological sites.
	Larry Crews : LarryCrews@compuserve.com
		Consultant
	Jerry Kitchens : UnmannedJK@aol.com
		Project Development
	Tim Mills : tmills@CTS.com
		Mountaineer
	Mark Jenkins : lionsgatemedia@usa.net
		Media Manager
	John Meek : meekman@sprynet.com
		Team Physician
	Mike Holt : holtmd@yahoo.com
		Mountaineer,  Travel Consultant 
	Troy Thomas : troy@inertiafilms.com
		Director of Photography
	John T. McIntosh : jtmomega777_99@yahoo.com
		Co-Director, Mountaineer Team 
	Robert Tamplet : btamplet@visi.net
		Aeronautical Pilot & Technician
	G. Wayne Bonsell : gwbonsell@redrose.net
		Security & Communications
	David King : dking@tbci.org
		Mountaineer
	B.J. Corbin : bjcorbin@noahsarksearch.com
		Mountaineer consultant & Co-Director Mountaineer Team
	Matthew Kneisler : mkneisler@arksearch.com
		Mountaineer & Remote Sensing Coordinator
	James Lee
		Business Manager
	Robert DeVaul
		Co-Director of Photography Operations
	Rick Hatch : bmscrh@urac1.ucr.edu 
		Co-Director of Photography Operations
	Peter Aleter : paletter@hotmail.com 
		Translator & Mountaineer	

There are others who have contributed as periodic consultants. Their invaluable help and service are greatly appreciated. Special thanks to: John Morris, Ray Anderson, and Jim Hayes.

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