Munsell Charts

[Mike.T.]

Indeed. I've seen 100's of context sheets with the soil colour described as ''brown'' on each one. Fairly meaningless.
Munsell charts are a far more accurate method of determining soil colour. The main problem with them is the price and they don't seem to last long on Archaeological sites. The pages fall out and the whole book usually ends up encased in mud.
So a waterproof plastic version sounds a much better alternative.

[monty]

The waterproof version sounds great. Anyone know where these are obtainable from ?

[Dirty Dave Lincoln]

Folks could try using the Humbroll paint guide (reccomended by Airfix):face-approve:,though writing 'battleship grey' or 'goblin green' will look odd on your context sheet:face-huh:

[Oxbeast]

Google informs me that it is called Earthcolors (sic). This journal article discusses some of the differences, slightly let down by wierd HTML

http://www.patrickgarner.com/earthcolors.html

[BAJR Host]

http://sciencekit.com/earth-colors%3A-a-...IG0027976/

about 70 quid

This is most intersting discussion... and made more so by that Earthcolors article... I loved the bit wher they begin a fight over 10YR 3/3

looks like people have stopped using this... which is both interesting and perhaps another sign we are paring away things we took as standard in the past.

"Gie's a Job.."
Prof. 'Dolly' Parton

[Digitaldigging]

Why not use this wonderful platform to build and agree on an open standards soil colour chart?

[stonecirclegirl]

quote:Originally posted by BAJR Host

http://www.dgcolour.co.uk/Specialist-Cha...Charts.htm

Just a thought... as people often ask where to get these...

was updating my links and resources .. and although they cost 75 quid.. you really should ! shouldn't ya!
:face-huh:

"Gie's a Job.."
Prof. 'Dolly' Parton

Hmmm.... something to spend my xmas money on??:face-huh:

'There is no great genius without some touch of madness'... that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it

[kevin wooldridge]

I think one of the things that some respondents to this thread have missed (and I am sure it is mentioned in the preamble to the Munsell table) is that the sample being compared should be at an optimum 'dampness' (in the old days we used to do the 'spit and smear' test). I seem to vaguely remember it should be 40% humidity (I think) or maybe 35%.

As the sample is compared to the colour match in the table, human variations in colour vision are irrelevant, providing your eyesight is good enough to distinguish variations in Munsell's hue, colour value and chroma.

As to why the system has taken a back seat in recent years...the spit and smear test is obviously one reason...the fact that many archaeologists memorised the Munsell coding for their local colour variations (dark earth, brickearth etc) and rarely referred to the Munsell table another...

[Velociraptor]

ARCHAEOLOGY - THE HUMBROL WAY

Ladies and Gentlemen, I wish to despoil,the way in which we describe soil,
You may have heard, of the Munsell Chart - but here's a way that's worlds apart.
In model shops, throughout the land, Humbrol paints are near at hand,
Some are dull and some are bright - and some are like we use on site.
For example, I would say - topsoil is like Panzer Grey.
The natural sand, is tricky fellow - unless you've seen Eigth Army Yellow.
Now, other colours aren't seen - that's true - like Goblin Green or Marine Corp Blue.
But all in all, things aren't strange, with lots to choose from the Humbrol range.
So, farewell to Munsell - not worth a fig - and hurrah for Humbrol on every dig!

[BAJR Host]

Volocirapor .. you are the new BAJR poet ! beautiful...

"Gie's a Job.."
Prof. 'Dolly' Parton