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The English word wampum derives from the Natick term wampumpeage, meaning white beads made from the central stem of the periwinkle shell (Pyrula carica or Pyrula canaliculata).
For the natives, another type of bead was far more valuable - suckihogk or black/dark/purple shell, made from round clams (Venus mercenaria).
Unable to make the distinction, Europeans called all of these beads wampum.
The process was very labour intensive and time consuming. Real wampum (white beads) began with central stem of the periwinkle, which already has a hole through its centre; this had to be painstakingly cut into sections without the use of metal tools and then smoothed by grinding on abrasive stones.
Purple beads took far longer (hence their value): the clam shells were smashed into fragments, each of which had to be drilled with a fine stone drill bit or a sharpened piece of wood coated with wet sand. These were then strung and repeatedly pulled through channels in abrasive stones or simply rubbed and rolled on a flat stone until they became round and smooth-sided.
What else can I help you with?
What is a sentence with wampum?
I'm all out of wampum. These dark purple shells will make the wampum necklace more valuable.
How do Iroquois Indians make jewelry?
they use wampum
What is a sentence for wampum?
Wampum
Could wampum be counterfeit?
No, since it was not "government issue" or regulated in any way - anyone could make wampum if they had the time, skill and patience.
What kind of crafts did the Ojibwa Indians make?
they made wampum's
Where is the Wampum Area Historical Society Inc in Wampum Pennsylvania located?
The address of the Wampum Area Historical Society Inc is: 3384 State Route 18, Wampum, PA 16157-3610
Is the Cherokees money called wampum?
No, the "wampum" is completely mythical. Or is it... (it isn't)
What is a wampum?
a wampum is beads weaved {white and purple} there like scarves but with beads on them
What is a good sentence with the word wampum in it?
I have a wampum card from the Mohegan Sun Casino.
What does it men when wampum was passed in the grand council?
They passed wampum when it was their turn to talk
What is a wampum and how do the Iroquois use it?
Wampum was a bead made from shells. For many years it was a key currency used in the colonial times. The purple ones were particularly prized, as there was only a small part of the shell that could be used to make them. Wealthy Indians and even colonists would wear belts and sashes of wampum. Actually, Wampums are money that some Native Americans use. Please note: Wampum or Wampum belts, were not used as money among Native American tribes as that was a European introduction where colonists used it as a medium of exchange (money). wampum was invented by the iroquis
The importance of the wampum belt to the Iroquois?
Wampum was important to SOME American Indian. Some northeastern tribes used wampum belts as a monetary system to trade for furs or whatever was valued at the time. More importantly, those wampum belts would tell the family history of the maker.
