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 agreements, commemorate treaties, genealogies, and important events, and their bead patterns convey messages that are read by culturally trained keepers. The designs can be plain or elaborate, with the arrangement of beads encoding narratives, obligations, or rights.

In the history of contact with Europeans, wampum also played a role as a trade good. It served as a medium of exchange in some regions during the 17th century and later, though its monetary value varied by community and era. Wampum was valued both as a currency in trade networks and as a culturally significant artifact with spiritual and political meaning.

Today, wampum remains an important symbol of Indigenous cultural heritage and diplomacy. Beadwork and belting practices are kept alive in many communities, and belts and beads are preserved in museums as historical and ceremonial artifacts. The Two Row Wampum belt is among the well-known designs that exemplify treaty symbolism in Iroquoian and other Northeastern cultures.