Fibres from ethnographic or archaeological sources tend to be aged, and are sometime fragmentary or decayed, fossilized or charred. With fibres in such condition, the simpler methods of preparation for microscopic observation were found to be more successful than classical biological methods of soaking, clearing and staining. Although not all fibre can be identified on the basis of present information, fur fibres from characteristic areas of the pelt can be identified to species and genus, and vegetable fibres can be identified to genus. A report from the observation of fur and wool fibres is included. Among the fibres discussed are flax, ramie, jute, hemp, cotton, silk, tula ixtle, sisal, agave, esparto, wool, vicuna, caribou. The red plate test is described. Photomicrographs, references.