In the study of archaeological textiles (materials found during an excavation ) it is recognised that textile products which have been discarded have usually suffered considerable fibre damage, and are therefore more susceptible to rapid biological degradation. This is no different for modern fabrics, and there are many mechanisms by which fabric can degrade. However, most of the published research focuses on archaeological textiles and there has not been any significant study of fabrics in clandestine burials for short periods of deposition . The effect of the burial environment on soldiers’ uniform fabrics has been investigated. The fabrics considered were woollen and were buried in a biologically active soil; complete biodegradation occurred in 5–6 weeks .