I'm fairly sure that DNA that age would be to decomposed to make cloning possible.

Possibly, but I can think of reasons, or resins, why not.

Seriously, resin. Even something like honey, clay, who knows. Ever look up resins though? Dragon's blood and frankincense and myrrh are all pretty interesting.

Like you said about the Founders, I'm inclined to believe people back then were a bit smarter than people think. Pretty sure mummies had resin in the bindings as well btw.