Check out these photos of a reconstructed Arab trading ship, the Jewel of Muscat, based on a 1200 year old model. You will see that it was 'stitched together' using coir fiber:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/8632302.stm
"The hull is stitched together with coconut fibre threaded through 70,000 holes. Not a single nail is used."
Alappuzha BDS Project
