Photographs (left to right): Columbia Gorge Flood Basalts, Washington; Nurse Tree, Washington; Clark Fork River, Washington

Wampum Archive

Wampum Strands

 

Fathom Strands

Reproduction (R. D. Hamell) Feb. 02 2009

 

Original Size:	Length: 72.0 inches.
Reproduction:	Beaded length: 72.0 inches.
Beads:	Rows: 1 by 185 beads (approx).
Materials:	Deer leather loop. Beads on artificial sinew. White or purple strands.

Description:

A fathom of wampum beads (6 feet; approximately 185 beads). Typical length the original shell beads were sold. A fathom of white wampum was worth about ten shillings, whereas, the purple wampum strand would fetch twenty shillings. In terms of today's dollars this would be equivalent to about $97.00 and $194.00.

According to six white wampum was worth a penny, a purple wampum was worth 2 pennies (Arizona Geographic Alliance).

For an example of purchase power a beaver skin was worth five strands (fathoms) of white wampum; a mink skin would get the seller two strands (Heritage History).

Reference:

Arizona Geographic Alliance: http://alliance.la.asu.edu/geomath/GeoMath3/lesson_files/Munson/Wampum/MunsonWampumS.pdf

Heritage History: http://www.heritage-history.com/www/heritage.php?Dir=books&MenuItem=display&author=otis&book=stephen&story=wampum

The Mohican Press: http://www.mohicanpress.com/mo08017.html