I have my doubts about this being the Ark of the Covenant, but wouldn’t want to spoil anyone’s fun.
I wonder if it became accepted that this was the original ark what would the Israeli Government position be in regards to it? It was once housed on the temple mount where currently the Dome of the Rock mosque is. Me thinks it would be a trigger to a war we have never seen the likes of before.
Have you read Graham Hancock's "Sign and the Seal"? Or Issiah Chapter 18?
Hancock has a fairly persuasive analysis of how and when the Ark got there which differs from the Ethopian legend but looks like a reasonable case.