Undersea explorer Robert Ballard announced the discovery of the remains of an ancient building in the Black Sea in 2000.

Nearly everyone is familiar with the biblical tale of Noah's Ark, but Robert Ballard and an army of archaeologists, undersea researchers and marine geologists just may have found the location of the flood—the Black Sea off the coast of Turkey. For years, marine geologists have speculated about the Black Sea as they have found more and more evidence that the saltwater body was once a freshwater lake. Theory contends that the Mediterranean Sea became overwhelmed with the melting after the last Ice Age, eventually spilling over its natural barriers and flooding the freshwater lake. Theorists believe the floodwaters flowed at 200 times the rate of the falls at Niagara and forced the water level to rise six inches per day for the duration of the flow. Explorers led by Ballard were looking for evidence to support the theories when they came upon a wooden building over 550 feet below the current sea level. This tremendous find may eventually lead to a more clear understanding of the flood of the Black Sea, which perhaps is the historical basis for ancient flood stories in biblical, mythological and epic literature.

Xpeditions
In Ancient Flood Stories (K–2), students learn about and discuss stories of ancient floods, including the story of Noah's Ark. Students learn about evidence of a flood that has been found in the Black Sea, and then they write stories about what it might have been like immediately before and during this flood.

Deep-Sea Technology (3–5) provides an opportunity for students to discuss the ancient story of the biblical flood and the theory of how it may have occurred. After discussing how they would look for evidence of this flood, students read and discuss an article about the Black Sea researchers' findings and discuss the role of special equipment in making those discoveries.

In Clues from the Black Sea (6–8), students learn about researchers' studies of the Black Sea, including a discussion of the scientific method. Students illustrate maps to show the theory behind the Black Sea study and discuss the evidence for which the Black Sea researchers might be looking. They then develop hypotheses suggesting what certain pieces of evidence might reveal about the Black Sea and the flood and compare their hypotheses to the researchers' actual discoveries.

Also focused on the scientific method, The Scientific Method in Undersea Archaeology (9–12) is designed to help students examine various hypotheses developed and tested by scientists regarding theories about the Black Sea. Students diagram and outline several hypotheses and the steps that were taken to test each one. Students conclude this lesson by writing a research plan for future studies.

The Science of the Deep Sea (9–12) teaches students about conducting science experiments and using rigorous scientific principles. Students learn about the ways in which scientific investigation is used in the "real world" as they consider the theories and methods Robert Ballard may have used in some of his deep-sea investigations.

In Sleuthing for a Lost Ship (6–8), students use geographical concepts to plan a fictitious investigation with scientist Robert Ballard to search for a long-lost ship.

In Ocean Exploration Museum (3–5), students learn about the work of deep-sea explorer Robert Ballard and create a "museum" exhibit about ocean exploration and suggest questions for future research.