Ark Research Project:
Search for Noah's Ark

Ark Research Project Newsletter - October/November 1998

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

In faith, Ark Research Project (ARP) made its way to a military zone in eastern Turkey: PKK infested Mount Ararat and vicinity. ARP has completed its first expedition at the invitation of Salih Bayraktutan from Ataturk University this past October to participate in a Workshop on the Flood of Noah. ARP is now preparing to produce several videos under the guidance of videographer, Mark Jenkins. Mark will help to produce a Dateline Special, Documentary and finally a ministry video for Professor James Hall.

Prior to the trip, ARP had never assembled, but as a fraction of our group gathered we began to form true bonds of friendship as team mates in ways we could have never fully expected. Many of us had common feelings: "Why me?", "What am 'I' doing here?" Many of our questions were answered as the trip proceeded.

Faith must be the theme, as you will see. Everyone made the trip to Erzurum Turkey okay, but our director, Jim Hall, fell ill. Immediately after a prayer meeting he was stricken with a mysterious intestinal ailment which resulted in a severe hemorrhage from the mouth and intestinal tract. Please see this most incredible account of Jim's situation at http://www.noahsarksearch.com/hall98summary.htm

While Jim was hospital bound, the remaining members of the ARP team made its way to the eastern most part of Turkey: Dogubayazit. We stayed in a local hotel and Turkish police camped in our hotel lobby keeping a watchful eye for the PKK throughout the night. The PKK are a notorious group of rebel Kurds who wish to destroy Turkish tourism. We were considered tourists. Check out this November 11 news article, "Suspected Kurd rebel bomber dies in Turkey blast", from ABC News at http://www.abcnews.com/wire/World/Reuters19981111_4839.html

Forty miles east of Mount Ararat, we were escorted by Turkish military as we made our way to "Durupinar", "The Ark Shape" or the "Buried Ark" (as it is known) and 5 miles from Iran. It is this location in Turkey that has been dubbed the "de facto" Noah's Ark. A yellow Turkish tourism sign points to the area and states, "Nuhun Gemisi 5" or "Noah's Ark 5 [kilometers]". When, in fact, no scientific proof has confirmed or denied this area as the Ark of Noah. This site must be excavated and analyzed through archeological research to confirm or deny its authenticity. This has yet to be done and may be accomplished, in some form, through Ataturk University and a future Workshop at a later date.

With machine gun in hand, Turkish military walked with us along an uphill path to a suspected grave site at 8,500 feet and three miles from the Iranian frontier. Other members of the Workshop began to uncover a potential grave as several rifle shots echoed throughout the canyon. On a mountain peak about a mile away, several troops of military personnel, jeep and radio antennae could be seen. It is time to go. As we left the Ark Shape, we passed Mount Ararat. During the day the majestic mountain had been shrouded in clouds. Occasionally we heard booms of either thunder or mortar fire from the military. But as we passed the incredible mountain we saw a sight rarely seen and possibly never photographed. Static crackled on the walkie talkies as Mike said, "Look at that rainbow!" Needless to say, our caravan pulled over and we snapped many pictures.

We were not allowed to climb Mount Ararat but were immensely encouraged by this most incredible sight. A rainbow over Mount Ararat. The clouds parted slightly to the right and the peak was exposed briefly with a full color rainbow in front of the mountain. For those of you still sleeping as you gloss over these words, I encourage you to read Gen 8:4 and Gen 9:13-17 then look at one of the pictures that I took. When you see the image and understand, please enjoy the hair as it stands on end on the back of your neck. Our team patiently waits for the Turkish permissions that will allow us to explore and scientifically study the remaining unsearched glaciers and caverns on Mount Ararat.

Our caravan made its way back to Erzurum as we snaked our way through the eastern Turkish country side. Near sunset, we passed miles of brimming trucks hauling sugar beets to market. In the black of night, we were stopped by a police security check point on the highway. During the trip, information was often late, lacking or confusing but the next day we learned that this road block was for the PKK. Rebel Kurds who wished to do harm to tourists were hiding near the road we traveled.

Over this time period, ARP team members began to piece this trip together. We began to see that we were not there for ourselves but for others. As Jim, a man of faith, literally wrestled with the devil in the hospital, each member of the team chased away his own demon. We began to see the power of Christ's Spirit as He protected us from both physical and spiritual danger. We proceeded in faith, living one day at a time and completed this mission (2 Cor 4:16-18).

I have release many photos to the Web and invite you to look at them and use them as needed according to the directions on the page. Please see

http://www.arksearch.com/napublic.htm

Please share this newsletter with your friends, co-workers and relatives. We are in a fund raising mode and need your assistance. Understand, the revelation of Noah's Ark is not necessarily for the Spirit-lead and Spirit-filled, we are commanded to live by faith (Heb 11). This revelation is for all others. Although the rainbow was a sign that God would never flood the earth again (Gen 9:12), the remains of the Ark "could" be a sign to a wicked and adulterous generation (Matt 16:4). By the grace of God, it could be a wake up call to these same people (Matt 24:37-39) and a phenomenal witness.

Last word, please see BJ's web site (my roommate/war buddy in Turkey) to see all the trip summaries by many involved at http://www.noahsarksearch.com/ (Go Hop Sing!!!)

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:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I found your webpage and information about Noah's Ark extremely interesting. As a frequent traveler to Turkey and as a Christian, I believe the ark has truly been found, on Mt Ararat, in Turkey. I must say, however, that I have seen much more convincing photos of the ark, in publications I found in Turkey. best regards," HB 9/1/98

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I sure enjoyed your ark pages. Some day we will learn to stop questioning the bible." JH 9/1/98

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Dear Sir,

Thank you for your informative web site!

Wasn't there a movie in the 1970's called "In Search of Noah's Ark"? Wasn't it put out by Billy Grahm's organization?

Thank you again!" CJO 9/1/98

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"In my book, NOAHS ARK: A FEASIBILITY STUDY, I discuss the possibility that the Ark was made of teak. I also document the fact that structures made of teak can last for thousands of years even in inclement weather. With the cold and relatively fungi-free environment of mountains, it could last even longer.

In high mountains, the rate of fungal activity is low. (Fungi are the primary agents for breaking down wood on the forest floor). That is why, for instance, logs of bristlecone pines have survived for thousands of years up in the mountains. The low fungal activity would help the Ark survive for thousands of years. However, until hard proof is at hand, we must recognize that any thought of the Ark still surviving is largely conjectural. That is why it is so much more productive to focus on the workability of Noah's Ark, as I have done." John Woodmorappe 9/16/98

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Wow! This was fasinating reading. I am looking forward to keeping up with the August '99 expedition. I am sure every thing that can be done politically has been done. Being somewhat of a skeptic about getting things like this off the ground, we you can enlist the top bureaucrats in this effort it of course would have a greater chance of success. I am talking about Secretaries of State, Interior, Ambassordors to Turkey, and all of the local Congressmen. It seems politics kills more of these ventures than lack of effort or funds.

Anyway, good luck! And please tell me the best way to keep up with the progress. I am willing to commit a limited amount of $$$, if I can be sure it is going to the right place, etc." AB 9/16/98

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I understand that you have an Ark Newsletter on e-mail. Would you please add me to your list. I have been a believer and creationist all my life which now stands at 76 years. I do personal research via computer simulation of the flood of Noah using some of the fluid mechanics and numerical simulation techniques I learned and taught during my 44 years at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. I am a firm believer that the Ark still lies on Ararat and I hope someone finds it soon while I'm still in the land of the living! I would like to follow the progress of your search. So thank you in advance for the newsletter.

Sincerely in Him"

MEC, Emeritus Professor of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics and Bioengineering 9/16/98

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Hi Great page, love the way you have taking the time to put all this together. I pray the Lord bless you and keep you tell His coming. The Ark has all ways made me think. What do you think about doing a study on the ark of covenent?" A 10/8/98

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Terrific website:

I was helping my 4th grader do her homework regarding finding the record hailstone. Was impressed by this sight..Keep up the good work!" CD 9/17/98

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"To whom it may concern, I was at a recent conference held by professor Hall. At the conference, I obtained several Web site addresses along with this E-Mail address. I would like to be added to the send list of the Monthly News Letter if you would. Regards," MH 10/31/98

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Really appreciate your work and have been involved in the creation ministry for sometime. Would appreciate being sent the news letter on the search for Noahs Ark."

Thanks E 10/31/98

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Thank you for your research! I belong to BSF "Bible Study Fellowship". This year we are studing Genesis. Trying to intelligently answer my study questions, brought me to your Web site. Verses 19 & 20 tell us that the flood covered all the earth. Is there evidence to support these verses? Where do I go next to look for research on geology or archaeology concerning the flood?" L 11/1/98

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

" .... I studied for a year at Cincinnati Bible College and had the pleasure of taking an Ancient History class taught by Dr. Rueben Bullard, and from the 1st day I was hooked on archaeology. I've never had he opportunity to go to a site, or probably ever will, but I love to read the accounts of people who have actually seen them. The rainbow pictures are special." EB 11/9/98

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Thanks for a great web site! It is fascinating. My dad is particularly interested in the history of Noah's ark, so it was fun to find this site and share it with him. Keep up the good work -- we'll be back! GGG [Give God the Glory]!" No name 11/12/98

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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

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

The Director of Ark Research Project and four members of the team were invited along with other international scientists to attend a conference at Ataturk University in Erzurum, Turkey Oct. 1-11. The Turkish professor who invited our group entitled the conference “Noah's Flood and The First Settlement.” What impressed me as a visitor to Eastern Turkey was the amount of historical treasure that is located in the area. These people have no problem believing in the story of Noah and the Flood. There are towns such as Korhan which means this is Shem's place. Naxuan, which means this is Noah's place. There are ruins in some of these villages that date back to Noah's time but were off limits because of the military presence in the area.

All of the sites are close to the borders of Iran, Iraq, and Syria where there is a constant military presence. Mt. Ararat is located near these borders. The mountain is a fortress for both the military and the terrorists. It has become difficult to obtain permission to climb the mountain because of this activity. We are trying to gain permits for next August and are looking for God to “open the doors” for this permission providing this is His timetable.

The purpose of the trip was to visit some of these historical sites and plan expeditions to explore them in 1999 and 2000. Even though I was hospitalized, we were able to come back with sufficient photographic and video documentation of the sites that will help plan all of our contingencies for a possible expedition in 1999. My hospitalization proved to be a blessing in disguise. I was treated as a VIP and was able to make valuable contacts with some of the Turkish officials.

We are assembling the team together for the first time this December in Richmond, VA for the purpose of planning our expedition. As I see our needs at the moment, we are in need of a permit which we are presently trying to obtain and to raise our necessary financial support.

If we are successful in meeting our goals and the Lord permits us to mount our expedition in 1999, then we want to do all of the necessary scientific analysis of the Ark utilizing all of the equipment and technology available. This will involve a necessary financial commitment.

You can be a part of this project by praying for us. If you read our testimonies on the Web, you know the dangers involved in this area of the world. I am currently trying to raise our financial support. This could be another area where you could assist us. Our ministry is tax exempt. Contributions can be sent to:

Ark Research Project
PO Box 4312
Lynchburg, VA 24502

Your Director, Prof. James L. Hall

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

In May 1999, Hallmark plans to air a special miniseries about Noah's Ark. Once the show has aired, many people will wonder what is happening right now with the search for Noah's Ark.

Ark Research Project is an active organization dedicated to the search and documentation of Noah's Ark. With your prayers, support and interest from the miniseries, ARP will be recognized as a leader and legitimate organization for this purpose.

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

Remember, when troubles come we tend to feel sorry for ourselves. However, during those troubles when we focus on others, we experience life in its fullest!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 August 1999. Team members are listed below.

James Hall, Director
James Lee, Business Manager
Mark Jenkins, Video Director
Robert Tamplet, Aeronautical Technician
B.J. Corbin, Consultant & Previous Explorer
Robert DeVaul, Photographer
Matthew Kneisler, Technical Engineer
G. Wayne Bonsell, Security Consultant
David King, Technician Assistant
John Meek, Medical Physician
Mike Holt, Specialist
Jerry Kitchens, Specialist

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

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To UNsubscribe, please respond to this letter with "REMOVE" in the subject and/or body. You will not receive any more newsletters.

On the other hand, if you know of others who would like to receive this information, please have "them" let us know. Have them request a subscription by corresponding with: mkneisler@arksearch.com and their name will be added to the list.

Send all correspondence about this newsletter to Matthew Kneisler email: mkneisler@arksearch.com