Wampum are traditional, sacred shell beads of Eastern Woodlands tribes. They include the white shell beads fashioned from the North Atlantic channeled whelk shell and the white and purple beads, made from the quahog, or Western North Atlantic hard-shelled clam. Woven belts of wampum have commemorated treaties or historical events. Description and manufacture The term initially referred to only the white beads, which are made of the inner spiral, or columella, of the Channeled whelk shell, Busyco… (More on Wampum)