Archaeology

Also known as: Secret Passageway, Catch of the Day, Dusty Mountain, Flint

Part of the gray family, Archaeology pairs a medium base with a quiet and sophisticated presence — ideal for 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.

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)

Color intelligence

sRGB safe

Displays accurately on every screen and translates well to print.

Temperature

CoolWarm

neutral, leaning warm

subtle yellow undertone in this near-neutral

Nearest standard colors

  • 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, empty-state illustrations — not text.
  • Fashion: Wears best as the statement piece — a top, scarf, or shoes — against neutral basics.

Copy as — every ecosystem

Tints, shades, and tones of Archaeology

Tints (lighter)

Shades (darker)

Tones (muted)

Color harmonies

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

Contrast & accessibility

Aa — on white

contrast 5.40:1

AA passAAA failAA large pass

Aa — on black

contrast 3.89:1

AA failAAA failAA large pass

Best text color on a Archaeology background: #ffffff

Palettes featuring Archaeology

Archaeology with its complement

Soft neighbors of Archaeology

Archaeology triad

Similar colors

Looking for maximum contrast instead? The complement of Archaeology is closest to Alley Cat.

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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