Beads made of shells, used by the North American Indians as money, and also wrought into belts, etc., as an ornament.
Small beads made of shells woven into belts and bracelets and used as a kind of money for trade.
beads made from two types of shells. The white beads were made from Northern whelk shells and the purple beads were made from quahog (clam) shells.
a type of belt used by Native Americans to show an agreement or treaty had been agreed
See seawan. Originally wampum referred to shell strings which were used as tokens of leadership or nobility in the Iroquois Confederacy.
small cylindrical beads made from polished shells and fashioned into strings or belts; used by certain Native American peoples as jewelry or currency
method to record events made out of purple and white shells.
"Wampum, made of quahog shell, is as precious and dignitary as any gem to the Wampanoag. It sustains our health, critiques our history, and adorns our apparel." -- Joan Avant Tavares, Mashpee Wampanoag.
Created primarily in the Northeast, these are white or purple beads made from shells that have been strung into belts. Most commonly given as gifts to commemorate historic moments, wampum was coveted since it was very difficult and time-consuming to make. With few examples remaining in circulation, wampum is extremely rare, collectible, and valuable.
Wampum is a string of white shell beads fashioned from the North Atlantic Knobbed Whelk shell also known as the Knobbie and is traditionally used by Indigenous Americans, First Nations peoples, Native Americans, hobbyists, business people, traders, who regard it as a sacred and/or money object. Wampum is also used for engagement, marriage, and betrothal agreements, as well as for ceremony and condolence ceremonies. The white shell beads of the whelk symbolize internal energies of peace, harmony, and contentment.