How would one “ verify” or “authenticate” this?
How would one “ verify” or “authenticate” this?
The first thing you do to verify or authenticate that -- is you let experts in their fields (regarding archeology and/or testing methodologies) get in there and have free reign to examine and test things ... plus be able to examime the overall location and see if it's something consistent with a big boat being there... (namely, you don't find it inside of a cave on the side of a mountain, as it seems that the guide is trying to "show" to others).
Experts have been excluded from the expedition and just the "media guys" (that's who is in that expedition). And you don't let the "guide" keep control over all materials (from the supposed site) and keep it locked up and only show it when he says so and not let the experts get their hands on it. And you don't keep these experts exluded from examining the actual location.
You "start" with a good methodology ... and then you "work it through" and examine all the details of the site and see if it's "consistent" with an ark being there.
You look for the things that negate that this particular site is the actual location of the ark and see if those facts and reasons are valid. You work from the negative and see if any are valid and hold up to scrutiny.
When you find people restricting access, keeping out the experts, using only "media people" and these same media people have an "investment" in the expedition and especially in showing it on their media outlets -- it's not too good of a methodology for getting the right information about it.
That's a start... and that is not what is being done here...
How did a ship the size of an aircraft carrier end up in a cave?