Hello.
I investigated the color of iconography of ancient ceramics;
Normally by using XRF (and/or other chemical methods), investigators detect which chemical element(s) and its amount. If we had the samples of the pigments, we could use the method(s).
However, currently, we have examined the Munsell color number Hue Value/Chrome, such as 7.5R3/4. From this codes, can we detect which chemical element the ceramic has, and its amount? The color (pigment) of ceramic is after firing.
Thank you for your advice in advance.
No we can not taste color. Soil color is influenced by the moisture content, mineral composition, and organic content. For example, soils high in calcium tend to be white, those high in iron are reddish, and those high in humus are dark brown to black. Soil needs only about 5% organic material to appear black when wet.
You could get a good estimate of the types of things in a soil for the purposes of further research but you could not say with certainty, especially as the color changes depending on heat during firing. Check out Prudence Rice Pottery Analysis.
Thank you, Bobbi.
However, in my case is not soil, PIGMENT AND CLAY. In this case also the situation is the same?
As for color red, for example, we understnd that they used FeO2, Fe2O3 as well black for MgO and white for Kaolin and CaO. Sorry for my poor explanation, but I would like to know, for instance, if the firing pigment color on ceramic is 7.5R3/3-3/4, how much amount of Fe(+ combined O2) contined? or its chemical structure is FeO2? Fe2O3? like that. black and white as well.
Thank you, Dr. Zach Linday.
I already read Rice Prudence, but I wonder now some methods could do it.
If the firing situation( including temperature etc) is a certain level of fixed, we could not that? with samples which already know Munsell color codes and pigments structure?
I mean, to what range only Munsell color codes clarify the ingredients and its amount.
I agree with Bobbi & Zach. Munsell colors are useful descriptive tools but will not provide any of the analytic results you are seeking. Quantified data on clay mineral content, other additions to ceramic pastes, firing temperature (most unlikely to be fixed in relation to temperature, time, oxidation or reduction, etc.), or resulting colors of paints or slips will have to be addressed through other means. Additionally, there is subjective variation in perception of Munsell colors between different human observers (in addition to light conditions). This is why in geoarchaology it is counter-productive to either use multiple fieldworkers to record Munsell colors on any single soil/sediment profile, or why archaeologists arguing about Munsell colors of soils/sediments; ceramics, lithic, etc. will never produce quantifiably useful results about the variable of interest to you; there is no objective color that different observers will ever be able to agree on through the Munsell comparisons.
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