wampum
Wampum refers to beads and belts made from shell that have been produced and used by Indigenous peoples of the Northeast, especially along the Atlantic coast. The beads are typically small, cylindrical, and drilled, traditionally fashioned from the inner nacre of quahog or other shells. The most common colors are white and purple, with purple often derived from a distinct shell layer. Wampum beads are strung into strings or woven into belts that carry symbolic meanings.
Wampum belts function as mnemonic records, diplomatic instruments, and ceremonial objects. Belts are used to seal
In the history of contact with Europeans, wampum also played a role as a trade good. It
Today, wampum remains an important symbol of Indigenous cultural heritage and diplomacy. Beadwork and belting practices