Final answer:
Only a tiny fraction of wooden objects from history have survived due to wood's susceptibility to water, fire, insects, and its characteristic as an organic, biodegradable material. Preservation efforts for the remainder include controlled storage environments and chemical stabilization.
Step-by-step explanation:
We can assume that only a small fraction of the wooden objects created over time still survive due to several reasons. Wood is an organic material, which makes it inherently vulnerable to various forms of degradation. Specifically, wood is susceptible to water, which can lead to rot, mold, and fungal growth. Wood is also susceptible to fire, as it is a combustible material that can be destroyed in conflagrations. Finally, wood is susceptible to insects, such as termites and beetles, which can eat away and weaken the structure of wooden artifacts over time. These factors, combined with the biodegradable nature of wood and bamboo, mean that organic objects like these degrade rapidly when not protected.
Special measures are taken by conservators and archaeologists to preserve what remains of ancient wooden objects. These include controlling the temperature and moisture levels in storage areas, supporting handwoven baskets to alleviate stress on the fibers, freezing organic objects to exterminate insects, and chemical stabilization techniques for ancient collections that are extremely fragile. However, despite these efforts, the vast majority of wooden artifacts from history have not survived to the present day.