Wampum, Traditional shell beads in Eastern Woodlands, US
Wampum refers to white and purple beads made from whelk and quahog shells through careful cutting, drilling, and filing into smooth cylinders. The color of each bead carried different meaning and value, with purple traditionally considered more valuable than white in trade and treaty contexts.
Wampum production dates back centuries among Eastern Woodlands peoples as a valuable trade good and ceremonial object. When Europeans arrived, they quickly recognized wampum's value and began manufacturing it in colonial settlements, leading to its use as currency until the practice declined in the later 1600s.
Wampum beads held deep meaning for Indigenous nations as records of agreements and relationships rather than mere ornaments. The beads were arranged in belts to tell stories and document treaties, creating a visual language that communities still recognize and honor today.
Wampum beads can be viewed in museums and at cultural events where guides explain their creation and significance. The best way to understand these objects is to visit different collections and belt displays to see how color and pattern combinations tell specific stories and mark important moments.
The Two-Row Wampum is often considered one of the most important symbols of relationship between Haudenosaunee and European peoples. This specific belt features two parallel lines representing two separate vessels traveling side by side without steering or controlling one another.
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