The purpose of Munsell soil color charts is to determine soil color. With the color charts, the soil samples from the trenches were compared and recorded. The soil color is recorded by three different dimensions that describe the soil color. Analysis of soil color helps to differntiate stratigraphic levels from each other and highlight similarities in soils in different trenches. . By studying each level, or stratigraphic layer, we can find clues to the way the fill was laid down. The way the levels are formed and colored combined with the artifacts and fossils found in them can in us in interpreting happened at the time that the layer was created.
The following table contains the Munsell readings for the soils encountered at the First Baptist Church during the excavation of fall 2007. Note that levels (L) 6 and 7 of the South profile of trench D1 were misplaced before they had a Munsell reading taken.
The information below has been linked in various ways to bring out the patterning in the soil layers from trench to trench. For instance, under the layers links will bring you to a page with only soil samples from the layer chosen. Especially in the topmost layers (1-4) this classification shows how similar the soil colors are from trench to trench at the same level (not depth), suggesting several site-wide events which resulted in similar layers in most trenches. We invite you to explore the various ways of classification and to see what patterns you can discern!
Although monitors show color differently, since the Munsell classification is provided it is anticipated that interested parties can reference the Munsell chart if true soil color at the site is a pressing concern. For all others, the Munsell swatches have been matched to what was deemed to be the same color in a Photoshop palette and the digitized profiles have been colored appropriately. To see the digital profile for any of the walls listed below simply click on the link for trench or wall.
Trench Wall East/West Depth Profile Label Munsell
D4 N 80E 10cm A 1L 5YR 3/1 D4 N 80E 25cm C 2L 10YR 3/2 D4 N 80E 40 D 3L 2.5Y 4/2 D4 N 80E 50 E 4L 2.5Y 4/2 D4 E 10S 4 A 1L 10YR 4/1 D4 E 10S 10 A 2L 2.5Y 3/2 D4 E 10S 20 B 3L 7.5YR 4/4 D4 E 10S 30 C 4L 7.5YR 4/0 D4 E 10S 40 D 5L 5YR 4/2 D4 E 10S 50 E 6L 5YR 4/2 D4 E 60S 10 A 7L 10YR 3/1 D4 E 60S 16 B 8L 2.5Y 5/2 D4 E 60S 25 C 9L 5YR 5/3 D4 E 90S 15 B 10L 2.5Y 3/0 D3 N 30E 5 A 1L 5YR 3/1 D3 N 30E 18 B 2L 10YR 4/2 D3 N 30E 35 D 3L 10YR 4/4 D3 N 30E 45 E 4L 10YR 4/4 D2 E 70S 10 A 1L 2.5Y 3/2 D2 E 70S 20 B 2L 10YR 4/2 D2 E 70S 30 C 3L 2.5Y 3/2 D2 E 70S 45 E 4L 10YR 3/3 D2 E 70S 60 F 5L 10YR 6/4 D2 E 70S 85 I 6L 10YR 6/6 D2 S 30W 10 B 1L 2.5Y 3/2 D2 S 30W 23 C 2L 7.5YR 4/2 D2 S 30W 30 C 3L 2.5Y 3/2 D2 S 30W 40 D 4L 10YR 5/4 D2 S 30W 45 E 5L 10YR 5/2 D2 S 30W 53 F 6L 7.5YR 5/4 D2 S 30W 63 G 7L 10YR 6/4 D2 S 30W 78 H 8L 10YR 5/3 D1 S 20W 5 A 1L 10YR 3/2 D1 S 20W 15 B 2L 7.5Y 3/2 D1 S 20W 28 C 3L 10YR 3/3 D1 S 20W 40 D 4L 5YR 3/3 D1 S 20W 55 F 5L 7.5YR 4/2 D1 S 80W 28 C 8L 5YR 5/4 D1 S 80W 38 D 9L 5YR 5/4 D1 S 80W 56 F 10L 5YR 5/6 D1 E 70S 5 A 1L 2.5Y 3/2 D1 E 70S 12 B 2L 10YR 3/2 D1 E 70S 25 C 3L 10YR 3/2 D1 E 70S 38 D 4L 10YR 3/2 D1 E 70S 50 E 5L 5YR 4/6 C2 W 20N 15 B 1L 10YR 3/2 C2 W 20N 25 C 2L 10YR 3/2 C2 W 20N 40 D 3L 5YR 4/1 C2 W 20N 55 F 4L 10YR 5/6 C1 S 40W 10 A 1L 7.5YR 4/2 C1 S 40W 25 C 2L 10YR 5/3 C1 S 40W 35 D 3L 10YR 4/1 C1 S 40W 50 E 4L 5YR 4/3 C1 N 20E 10 A 1L 2.5Y 3/2 C1 N 20E 20 B 2L 2.5Y 3/2 C1 N 20E 35 D 3L 10YR 4/1 C1 N 20E 50 E 4L 5YR 4/2
Below are examples of Munsell# soil colors. Theses examples are based on the soil samples of the different trenches:
