[Some Fat Guy in L.A.]

Never understood why people think a 3500 year old wooden box (and an even older wooden boat) would still be around to be found.

[Telepathic Intruder]

I’d be more interested in the alleged 33 tons of gold at site 2, and feel safer leaving the ark alone where God left it.

[Wonder Warthog]

"Never understood why people think a 3500 year old wooden box (and an even older wooden boat) would still be around to be found."

Plenty of far older wooden artifacts survive in various Egyptian tombs. Middle East = DRY climate = minimal (or no) decay.

[madison10]

Never understood why people think a 3500 year old wooden box (and an even older wooden boat) would still be around to be found.

Maybe because if they could find biblical writings in a cave near the Dead Sea, they can find a wooden box preserved the same way. The arid climate might make it possible.