Submerged Ancient City Discovered Beneath Lake Van May Shed New Light on Flood Myths

In Turkey, researchers have discovered the remains of a mysterious ancient city submerged beneath Lake Van — a finding that could offer new insight into ancient flood legends that have persisted for thousands of years.

The city, estimated to have been built between 12,000 and 14,500 years ago, was first identified in 1997 by Turkish filmmaker Tosun Saral, during an underwater expedition focused on studying aquatic life in the lake.

A New Lens on the Biblical Flood Story?

For years, the story of Noah’s Ark and the great flood, as told in the Bible, has largely been regarded as a religious narrative. But this recent discovery could encourage scholars to reconsider whether such stories might have stemmed from real historical events.

Structures, Roads, and Signs of Life Beneath the Waters

Among the findings reported by divers and archaeologists were large structures built in symmetrical formations, roadways, and other signs indicating long-term human settlement.

Historians and archaeologists believe the city may have been submerged by a catastrophic flood event that reshaped the region — potentially long before the Biblical flood associated with Noah’s time.

Was the Biblical Flood Based on an Earlier Cataclysm?

According to researcher Matt LaCroix, the flooding may have been triggered by a volcanic eruption of Mount Nemrut, which in turn caused the Mirat River to overflow and flood the entire area — submerging the ancient city beneath what is now Lake Van.

Speaking on the Limitless podcast hosted by Matt Beall, LaCroix stated:

“Six thousand years ago, humanity didn’t have the advanced technology to build such complex structures. The artifacts found here suggest a level of sophistication that is difficult to attribute to more recent civilizations.”

Many historians now believe that the Biblical flood narrative might have been inspired by older events, retold over generations and eventually transformed into religious teachings to explain divine power or punishment.

Re-examining Historical Origins

The discovery has prompted renewed scrutiny of both Biblical texts and other sacred scriptures, as it highlights the possibility that significant events in Earth’s early history have not been given the attention they deserve.

Some scholars even argue that the Noah flood story may have been influenced by much older flood myths from ancient Mesopotamian civilizations, whose texts were foundational to later religious writings.

This finding has sparked calls among modern historians and archaeologists for comprehensive research and excavation, as these underwater ruins could fundamentally reshape our understanding of human history and ancient cultural narratives.