Did the CIA Find the Ark of the Covenant?

A two-decades-old document claims the Central Intelligence Agency has found the Ark of the Covenant. However, the CIA's use of supposed psychic abilities to locate sparked mockery online.

The search for the Ark of the Covenant was mythologized in the Indiana Jones films. According to Britannica, the Ark is supposed to be "the ornate, gold-plated wooden chest that in biblical times housed the two tablets of the Law given to Moses by God."

There are many different stories suggesting the location of the Ark of the Covenant.

According to USA Today, the documents, which were released in 2000 but are trending now, show that the CIA used "experimental intelligence methods" in an attempt to local the Ark, but the findings are about 25 years old.

The New York Post reported that the documents describe "remote viewing" activities. The remote viewing exercise was part of a "secret project called Sun Streak," according to The Jerusalem Post.

The strange methods used in the document sparked jokes online. "We’ve known where the Ark of the Covenant has been since 1981 because it was shown at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark," joked one person on X.

"I can claim the Ark of the Covenant is in my garage, if no one is ever allowed to see it or verify my claim," joked another X user.

Many others mocked the use of psychics.

The CIA allegedly ran a "remote viewer" program where "psychics" were locating objects.

Apparently, the Ark of the Covenant was located by such a psychic, known as "remote viewer #032" ...

Well, I'm sold! The stick figures by remote viewer #032 did it for me. Proof! pic.twitter.com/yXcN2hdpxa

— Marina Medvin 🇺🇸 (@MarinaMedvin)

According to Daily Mail, the project utilized people "alleged to have paranormal capabilities means of acquiring intelligence about 'distant events.'"

Project Sun Streak involved the "ability to describe remote areas or concealed data via unknown mental processes," USA Today reported.

The CIA document is dated Dec. 5, 1988.

"Training target #0209 is the Ark of the Covenant," it says.

"Viewer #032 attained excellent site contact. Doing very well with stage IV structure viewer and exhibits the ability to keep AOL to a minimum. Have to be careful with editing though. This does not seem to be a problem at this time, just something to watch for.”

Target "is a container. This container has another container inside of it. The target is fashioned of wood, gold and silver. The target is similar in shape to (AOL) a coffin and is decorated with seraphim," the document continues.

"This target is located somewhere in the Middle East as the language spoken by individuals present seemed to be Arabic. Visuals of surrounding buildings indicated presence of Mosque Domes. Individuals in the area were clothed in virtually all white, had black hair and dark eyes – one figure I homed in on wore a mustache."

King David bearing the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem, Early16th cen.. From a private collection.

Heritage Images/Getty Images

"The target is hidden underground. Dark and wet were all aspects of the location of the target. The purpose of the target is to bring a people together… It has something to do with ceremony, memory, homage, the resurrection. There is an aspect of spirituality. Information, lessons, and historical knowledge far beyond what we now know," the document says.

"The target is protected by entities and can only be opened (now) by those who are authorized to do so – this container will not/cannot be opened until the time is deemed correct. Once it is time to open the container – the mechanics of the lock system will be found to be fairly simple. Individuals opening the container by prying or striking are destroyed by the container’s protectors through the use of a power unknown to us."