Noah's Ark
09:59 AM ET 04/10/97
Noah's Ark myth like Loch Ness monster -scientist
SYDNEY, Australia (Reuter) - An archeological site believed
by some Christians to contain Noah's Ark was being used as
Turkey's equivalent of the Loch Ness monster to raise research
funds, a Sydney court was told Thursday.
Australian geology professor Ian Plimer said the site on
Mount Ararat, which he believes is nothing more than a large
mound of mud, was being used as an ``income-generating
mechanism'' by the Turkish geologist in charge of the site.
``I am sympathetic to the financial position he is in, but I
am certainly not sympathetic to the scientific fraud,'' Plimer
told the Federal Court of Australia.
After visiting the Turkish site in 1994, Plimer said he
challenged the site project leader about its authenticity.
According to the Bible, Noah built the Ark to rescue his family
and animals from a 40-day flood called down by a wrathful God.
``He said he was using this site to raise funds from
Christian fundamentalists. He said he doesn't believe in Noah's
Ark and that this is his equivalent of Loch Ness,'' Plimer said
referring to the mythical Scottish lake monster.
``He has supported the views of various Christian
fundamentalists that yes, this is the site of Noah's Ark. As
scientist to scientist, in essence he apologized and said to me,
'Sorry, this is the only way I can fund my research'.''
Plimer and U.S. marine salvage expert David Fasold are suing
creationist Allen Roberts for ``misleading and deceptive
conduct'' in Australian lectures on his explorations of the
Turkish site.
Creationists believe the world was created over six days, as
in the Book of Genesis, some 6,000 to 10,000 years ago.
The protagonists say the trial is not about the Biblical
story of creation, but fair trading laws -- although many in the
court including the judge see a battle between science and
creationism just below the surface.
Roberts, held hostage for three weeks by Kurdish separatists
in 1991 after visiting the Turkish site, does not say he
believes the Turkish site is Noah's Ark.
``If this is not Noah's Ark, then what is it?'' Roberts
would ask in concluding his lectures.
Plimer said he had found a golf tee and bits of plastic at
the Turkish site, adding: ``If Noah's Ark was 4,000 years old,
the ancient game from St Andrews would not yet have been
around.''
REUTER