Wampum as Currency

Wampum refers to beads made from shell materials used by Indigenous peoples of the Eastern Woodlands as a form of currency and ceremonial object. Valued for their rarity and craftsmanship, wampum belts and strings served as a medium of exchange, record-keeping, and acknowledgment of agreements. Unlike conventional money, their worth was culturally and symbolically rooted, functioning both economically and as a sign of trust and diplomacy within and between tribes and European settlers. Wampum played a vital role in trade and treaties, reflecting a system where value extended beyond material worth to encompass cultural significance.