Why have so few wooden and textile artworks from the prehistoric Southeast survived?

In the prehistoric Southeast, wood and textiles were used extensively by indigenous peoples; however, very little of this material has survived in its original condition because these items are highly perishable.1

The primary reason for this loss is that wood and organic fibers are subject to degradation by environmental and biological factors. Wood is not inherently prone to decay, but it is susceptible to destruction when exposed to specific conditions of moisture, air, and temperature that facilitate the growth of fungi, bacteria, and insects. In the humid climate of the Southeast, these agents of decay act rapidly to break down organic materials. While wood can be preserved for millennia in exceptionally dry environments—such as the tombs of ancient Egypt—the typical conditions in the prehistoric Southeast did not provide the necessary protection against these natural processes. Consequently, while some textile fragments and other perishables like featherwork and animal hides have been recovered, the vast majority of these artistic works have been lost to time.21