This may be a repost, but I can offer this thread something that hasn't been in the earlier threads. After reading an earlier one, I stumbled across this:
Photo gallery of the dig artifacts!
Not only did the wood survive, even the ropes are in amazingly good condition considering their incredible age. The dry desert preserved everything from painted markings on the stones, to the fire rings (which look like they were used yesterday), to the ropes and wooden artifacts. If it weren't for the hieroglyphics, you could have told me that these artifacts were remnants of a 100 year old shipwreck and I'd have never doubted it.