Beneath the placid surface of Lake Van, Turkey’s largest lake, lie the ruins of a millennia-old fortified complex. Located approximately 85 feet (≈26 m) under water near the town of Gevaş, and just 150 miles from Mount Ararat, this site has sparked renewed interest—and controversy—for its potential links to ancient flood traditions.
Discovery and Geological Background
In 2017, archaeologists working with Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, together with independent divers, reported the discovery of a substantial underwater fortress spanning nearly one kilometer, accompanied by temples and stone structures. These were interpreted as remnants of the Urartian period, roughly 3,000 years ago, according to National Geographic.
Lake Van itself is the product of ancient volcanic activity. Geologists note that lava flows from Mount Nemrut blocked the lake’s outlet during the Pleistocene, leading to dramatic shifts in water level over time, according to Wikipedia. At the Last Glacial Maximum, Lake Van reached up to 72 m above its current level (around 18,000 years ago), and dropped dramatically during the early Holocene before rising again about 6,500 years ago.
Speculation of a Much Older Civilization
Some independent researchers, such as Matt LaCroix, have proposed that the site may date back far earlier—between 12,000 and 14,500 years ago—and that a massive eruption of Mount Nemrut triggered catastrophic flooding by blocking the Murat River during the Younger Dryas period (a time known for extreme climate upheaval). They argue the tightly interlocking stonework, angular joints, and a carved “Flower of Life” motif suggest craftsmanship beyond typical Urartian capabilities.
“As far as I’m aware, any civilizations in the last 6,000 years did not have the technological means to create the type of stonework we’re seeing here,” LaCroix stated on the Matt Beall Limitless podcast.
While archaeological teams confirm the structures exist, they stress the ruins remain undated, and mainstream scholars maintain they align with known Urartian or medieval architecture. As of now, no carbon-datable organic material has been recovered from the submerged stonework.
Faith and Science: Biblical Interpretation
For Catholic readers, the notion of an ancient flood prompting early storytelling is not without precedent. The Book of Genesis, along with earlier traditions such as Gilgamesh and Atrahasis, describe divine judgement by water, preserving a righteous remnant. Catholic biblical scholarship acknowledges that the Genesis narrative may reflect a deeper well of oral and literary traditions reaching back into prehistory.
This site, though located far from Mesopotamia, lies within what many have traditionally considered the “Ararat region”—the place where Noah’s Ark is said to have come to rest (Genesis 8:4). While Mount Ararat itself is further north into modern-day Armenia, the broader Armenian highlands surrounding Lake Van were historically associated with the flood narrative.
What Lies Ahead: Planned Investigations
LaCroix and his team of international divers plan to return with advanced imaging technologies in September 2025 to generate detailed mapping of the submerged structures. Their goal: to identify sediment layers, organic artifacts, or other datable materials that could confirm—or overturn—their hypothesis , according to a Reddit thread. This approach aligns with scientific practice: stonework itself cannot be carbon‑dated, so indirect evidence is the only path to chronological certainty.
A Balanced Perspective for the Faithful
What can devout Catholics take from these developments? Twofold:
- First, while the hypotheses are intriguing, they remain speculative. No firm archaeological or geological evidence currently supports a civilization dating to the Younger Dryas at this site.
- Second, the enduring power of the Flood narrative—central to Christian understanding of sin, divine mercy, and covenant—does not depend on the precise dating or identification of ruins.
If future investigations uncover compelling archaeological or geological evidence linking this site to a very ancient flood event—perhaps even one that influenced shared symbolic traditions—it would invite deeper reflection on how God’s providence works through history and how sacred memory may preserve truth across cultures.
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