From time to time throughout the years, claims of discovery in relation to Noah's Ark have generated considerable enthusiasm (including the movie, "The Searth for Noah's Ark" that played to a rather wide audience in theatres across the nation in the 'seventies). It is with a sense of both hesitation and fascination that we - along with many others - find the alleged recent discovery of petrified hand-hewn beams and apparent deck of a ship at an elevation of some thirteen thousand feet in Iran's Elzburg mountain range (some scholars maintaining that the term Ararat covered a vastly larger area than the limited territory in Turkey presently bearing the name). Conducted by a team of B.A.S.E. (Biblical Archaeology Search and Exploration) investigators, the discovery was in consequence of long standing reports and rumors.
While in no way discounting factual realities transcendent the normal and/or routine, we are yet frequently skeptical as to some accounts of the religiously sensational (remember the Russian scientists back in the 'eighties who, upon lowering a microphone many miles into the earth, picked up the cries of the damned? The story gained considerable play in some circles until it was found to have been created by an athiest intent on proving Christians gullible).
Having so said, we are nonetheless mindful that certain Mideastern societies reportedly understand Messiah's coming as being preceded by the discovery of Noah's Ark. Dos such cultural claim exist? We do not know. If so, does such possess prophetic credibility? Again, we do not know.
In any case, it will be interesting to see where it all leads. Response, both positive and negative, is beginning to appear on the internet. Stay tuned...
Burl Ratzsch
