Irving Finkel | The Ark Before Noah: A Great Adventure

The speaker expresses delight at revisiting a place they hadn't been to since 1979, alluding to the thrill of discovering something long considered a fantasy. They recount their experience as a curator at the British Museum, identifying and evaluating historical artifacts brought in by the public. The narrative takes a fascinating turn when Douglas Simmons enters with a collection of antiquities, including a cuneiform tablet that the speaker immediately recognizes as a rare and unpublished Old Babylonian version of the Flood Story, an extraordinary find in the world of Assyriology.

The speaker delves into the historical significance of the Flood Story's discovery, highlighting George Smith's 1872 revelation of a cuneiform tablet that paralleled the biblical account of Noah's Ark. Smith's discovery sparked widespread debate and was met with skepticism by religious authorities. The narrative then shifts to the speaker's own encounter with a similar tablet, which promises to shed new light on the ancient tale. The speaker humorously describes the reactions to Smith's find, including the anecdote of his ecstatic behavior upon the realization of the text's importance.

The speaker shares the surprising revelation from the cuneiform tablet about the Ark's design, which contradicts the popular notion of a rectangular shape. Instead, the Ark is described as round, akin to the ancient Mesopotamian 'coracle' boats. The speaker provides a vivid description of these boats, their construction, and their remarkable buoyancy, using personal experience and historical accounts to support the narrative. They also discuss the practicality of a round boat for the Ark's purpose, given its simple yet effective design.

The speaker narrates the divine instructions given to Atra-hasis for building the Ark, as detailed in the cuneiform tablet. The instructions include the boat's dimensions, materials required, and the quantities needed, showcasing an intimate knowledge of ancient boat-building techniques. The speaker also recounts their collaboration with a mathematician to verify the rope measurements provided in the tablet, finding a remarkable accuracy that suggests the ancient instructions were grounded in practical reality.

The speaker recounts the journey of turning the ancient boat blueprint into reality through a documentary film. They describe the process of raising funds, selecting a location in Kerala, India, and assembling a team of experts and workers to build the Ark. The speaker also humorously reflects on the challenges of translating the ancient instructions into a modern building project, the skepticism of documentary filmmakers, and their own desire for creative control over the film.

The speaker describes the final stages of the Ark's construction and its eventual launch. They detail the innovative methods used to move the massive structure into the water and the crew's efforts to address unforeseen challenges, such as leaks due to suboptimal bitumen. The speaker also shares anecdotes from the launch, including the symbolic use of goats to represent the Ark's cargo and the public's immediate association of the structure with Noah's Ark, despite its departure from traditional depictions.

The speaker concludes the narrative with reflections on the cultural impact of the Ark story and its various interpretations. They discuss the public's reaction to the Ark's launch, the media's coverage, and the enduring fascination with the story. The speaker also contemplates the origins of the Ark's traditional shape in popular culture and suggests that it may be a distorted memory of the round coracle design. They end with a humorous anecdote about being mistaken for a descendant of Noah by the local workers.