I understand normal ol rotten wood. I had not seen wood that appeared to be
in excellent condition but very dry to the scraping. The wood had not been
varnished.
Are there techniques to restore this wood?

I've "restored" an entire cedar outdoor patio deck by sanding. There's a
thin layer of soft discoloured wood on the surface which can be sanded
off. If you don't feel like sanding then you can apply the usual linseed
oil and kerosene (or any solvent, paint thinner). I oil the inside of my
wooden boats.

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