It is a moot point as to whether or not fibre evidence is the same as textile evidence. In a materials sense, fibres are what constitutes fabrics, however their treatment and recovery at a crime scene point to a distinction in how they are regarded evidentially. Fibres are categorised in forensic science as trace evidence and can be found at all types of crime scenes. Trace evidence encompasses an incredibly broad range of potential evidence types, such as paint, glass, hair, soil and pollen, but forensic investigations continue to focus on fibres and fabrics due to the plethora of information they provide and the transferability of them through physical contact. The abundance of textiles products used in everyday life makes it no surprise that fabrics are commonly present in crime scenes including clandestine burials. The role of textile products can vary from garments worn by a victim to the item that the victim is disposed of in (carpets, bags, shower curtains, etc.). In addition, fabrics can be resistant to selected environments and therefore can be retained at crime scenes over relatively long periods of time, unless physically moved by wind or rain. For example, cotton is resistant to alkaline environments (i.e. soil that normally have pH values ranging from 3 to 9) and therefore degradation is very gradual, allowing for their preservation and presence in burials