The Quest for Colour X

When working with archaeological textiles, it is sometimes possible to take small thread samples for analysis of dyes, which indicate what colour the textile originally had.

Dye analysis with HPLC-DAD is a method that detects the chemical compounds of the dyes which then can be compared to a reference database of dye spectra from a wide range of natural dye sources. The method shows the dye molecules but not necessarily the original colour of the textile. This is also why it is sometimes possible to detect a dye without having a match in the reference database.

We call them Yellow X and Red X.

We need your help to find out which dye plants, mushrooms, lichen or insects that are the sources of Yellow X and Red X. If you want to help us solve this mystery, please use the following guidelines. We are grateful for all contributions, and the most promising samples will be tested by the HPLC-DAD method at the Textile Lab of KIK-IRPA in Belgium, to see if we can find a match for Yellow X and Red X.

Click here to find the guidelines for how to participate.

The Quest for Colour X form

Click here to find the participation form