Wool remains found in ancient skin and cloth were used to study the origin and history of the fine-woolled Spanish Merino sheep. Fiber diameter is measured and classified according to source and date. Parchments from the Dead Sea Scrolls were examined for follicle groups, discovering a shift in the growth of the increasingly finer underwool to the outer coat. Evidence from ancient Greece, Rome, the early Middle Ages in North Africa, the later Middle Ages in Spain, and nineteenth century Australia are also examined. -- AATA