Did Noah's Ark
Land in Aratta?
Where is Aratta? Likely in the Zagros Mountains of Iran: from Susa follow the Karkheh River and Road 37 to the approach of Mountain Gate 5 (perhaps Anshan), then cross the 5-6-7 Mountains toward Alvand and the archaeological site of Godin Tepe -- a plausible but unproven candidate for Aratta.
The cover of the book is a map showing my proposed route from Uruk to Aratta.
Promotes a site that should be explored.
About
I first read about the search for Noah's Ark in the 1970s and began participating in expeditions in 1986-87. After nearly 40 years of research, I am now approaching 67 and retired. While I don't have any plans for expeditions to Iran at the moment, who knows what the future may hold.
After participating in four expeditions to Mount Ararat (1988, 1989, 1990, 1998) searching for remains of Noah's Ark -- based mostly on sensational eye-witness accounts -- I refocused my research on the Iranian Zagros Mountains using ancient texts. After reviewing Sumerian accounts of Aratta; the archaeological nexus among Uruk, Susa and Godin; and extra-biblical sources, I concluded that Alvand Mountain is the best candidate for the Ark's landfall.
Alvand Mountain matches the location for the biblical mountains of Ararat according to Genesis 11:12 ESV:
And as people migrated from the east,
they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there.
This would imply the first peoples after the Flood coming from the Zagros Mountains. Godin Tepe/Alvand also matches Sumerian clues for the location of Aratta.
Past Expeditions to Mount Ararat in Turkey
As a result of participating in four expeditions to Mount Ararat in Turkey, I initiated the book, The Explorers of Ararat, published by GCI (Rex Geissler) in 1998.
Other sites considered between Uruk and Aratta:
Uruk, the most populated post-Flood city (likely where the Tower of Babel workers came from)
Tower of Babel at Girsu (around 36 miles or 2-day walk from Uruk)
Seven mountains to Aratta route
Possible location of Anshan
Barrier of Inanna (a fort guarding Aratta)
Cedar Forest & Mountain of Humbaba
Lugalbanda's Cave
Mashu "twin peaks" Mountain
Godin Tepe archaeological site as Aratta
Alvand Mountain as the most likely landing site of Noah's (Ziusudra's/Atrahasis'/Utnapishtim's) Ark
2001 The History Channel
History's Mysteries: The Search for Noah's Ark
Maps
Maps showing the route from Uruk/Susa to Aratta.
Map below showing the locations of the holy mountains of Turkey and Iran in proximity to Shinar.
Only Kuh-e Alvand alone fits Genesis 11:2 and Aratta criteria.
