Research activities during the report period (July 1, 1979 to September 30, 1979) involved two graduate students and concentrated on: (1) determining the density of archaeological and naturally degraded cotton, (2) investigating the effect of grinding on the moisture regain of degraded fabrics, and (3) initiating a study of the water soluble components of degraded cotton fabrics. A summary of the results of these investigation is given in section II A. Ancillary activities included the presentation of a paper at the Second Symposium on the Preservation of Paper and Textiles of Historic and Artistic Value, and other activities described in Section II B.