Archaeology
Also known as: Secret Passageway , Catch of the Day , Dusty Mountain , Flint
Archaeology brings a quiet and sophisticated feel to a palette. This medium gray suits minimal interfaces and architecture. A gray counterpart from the complementary harmony gives it the most tension. On white it reads clearly at 5.40:1 contrast, safe for body text under WCAG AA.
Reference
Archaeology color codes
- HEX
- #6E6A5E
- RGB
- rgb(110, 106, 94)
- RGBA
- rgba(110, 106, 94, 1)
- HSL
- hsl(45, 8%, 40%)
- HSV
- hsv(45, 15%, 43%)
- CMYK
- cmyk(0%, 4%, 15%, 57%)
- LAB
- lab(44.9 -0.1 7.4)
- OKLCH
- oklch(52.4% 0.019 91.7)
Analysis
Color intelligence
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Gamut
The full range of colors a device or space can show. sRGB is the common screen gamut; Display P3 is wider. A color outside a gamut cannot be shown accurately there and must be mapped inward.Full glossary entry →Displays accurately on every screen and translates well to print.
Temperature
Undertone
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neutral, leaning warm
subtle yellow undertone in this near-neutral
Nearest standard colors
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Delta E (ΔE)
A measure of how different two colors look. Below 1 the difference is invisible to almost everyone; below 2.3 most people can't tell them apart; above 10 they are clearly different colors. We use CIEDE2000, the modern standard.Full glossary entry →
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Delta E (ΔE)
A measure of how different two colors look. Below 1 the difference is invisible to almost everyone; below 2.3 most people can't tell them apart; above 10 they are clearly different colors. We use CIEDE2000, the modern standard.Full glossary entry →- CSS: dimgray #696969 · ΔE 6.3
- RAL 7039: Quartz grey #6B695F · ΔE 1.4 · approximate
RAL values are widely published approximations of the physical standard. For Pantone-adjacent workflows, match by eye against a physical fan deck. Pantone's values are proprietary and device-dependent, so we don't print lookups.
Where Archaeology works
- Web & UI: Dark enough for body text and icons on white backgrounds. It passes WCAG AA as-is.
- Interiors: Strong for a whole room, excellent in doses: an accent wall, cabinetry, or a statement chair.
- Fashion: A wardrobe neutral: it anchors outfits and pairs with nearly any accent color.
- Branding: Craft and heritage material: coffee, leather goods, and premium packaging live here.
- Web & UI: A supporting-cast color for UI: chart fills, tags, and empty-state illustrations, but not text.
- Fashion: Wears best as the statement piece, a top, scarf, or shoes, against neutral basics.
Copy as: every ecosystem
Variations
Tints, shades, and tones of Archaeology
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Tint
A color mixed with white, which raises its lightness. Pink is a tint of red. Tints feel softer and more open than the base color.Full glossary entry →
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Tint
A color mixed with white, which raises its lightness. Pink is a tint of red. Tints feel softer and more open than the base color.Full glossary entry →Tints (lighter)
Shades (darker)
Harmonies
Color harmonies
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Complementary colors
Two colors opposite each other on the wheel. They create the strongest contrast and make each other look more intense, so they work best used unevenly.Full glossary entry →
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Complementary colors
Two colors opposite each other on the wheel. They create the strongest contrast and make each other look more intense, so they work best used unevenly.Full glossary entry →Palettes built from Archaeology by rotating its hue in OKLCH space. Click any swatch to copy its hex code.
Complementary
Analogous
Triadic
Split-complementary
Tetradic
Monochromatic
Accessibility
Contrast & accessibility
Aa on white
contrast 5.40:1
AA pass AAA fail AA large pass
Aa on black
contrast 3.89:1
AA fail AAA fail AA large pass
Best text color on a Archaeology background: #ffffff
Palettes
Palettes featuring Archaeology
Archaeology with its complement
Soft neighbors of Archaeology
Archaeology triad
Explore
Similar colors
- Granite #746A5E · ΔE 3.5
- Armoury #6A6B65 · ΔE 3.6
- Organic #747261 · ΔE 3.9
- Mangrove #757461 · ΔE 5.1
- Shadows #6B6D6A · ΔE 5.2
- Anchovy #756F6B · ΔE 5.4
Looking for maximum contrast instead? The complement of Archaeology is closest to Alley Cat .
FAQ
Archaeology FAQs
What color is Archaeology?
Archaeology is a medium gray with the hex code #6E6A5E. In HSL terms it has a hue of 45°, 8% saturation, and 40% lightness.
What is the hex code for Archaeology?
The hex code for Archaeology is #6E6A5E. In RGB it's rgb(110, 106, 94), and in CMYK it's cmyk(0%, 4%, 15%, 57%).
What colors go well with Archaeology?
Archaeology pairs naturally with gray tones from its complementary harmony. Its own tints and shades always work as a monochrome scheme.
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