Photographs (left to right): Florida State Caverns, Mariana, Florida; Little Talbot Beach, Florida; Florida State Caverns, Mariana, Florida

Wampum Belt Archive

Haudenosaunee Belt

 

NYSM 37421

Beauchamp 1901 #240

 

Original Size:	Columns: 217. Rws: 6.
Reproduction:	Beaded Length: 34.5 inches. Width: 3.0 inches. Length w/fringe: 68.5 inches.
Beads:	Columns: 217. Rows: 6. Beads: 1,542*.
Materials:	Warp: Deer leather. Weft: Artificial sinew. Beads: Polymer.

*The black diagonals are double beads per row.

Description:

Belt of doubtful meaning . The sloping diagonals are temporary alliances (Beauchamp. 1901).

The belt has 12 rows with black diagonal bars on a white foundation, and it is imperfect at both ends. It had seven bars when first seen by the writer (Beachamp), but Mr. Crrington's picture show but six and perhaps part of another. According to him it "represents a convention of the Six Nations at the adoption of the Tuscaroras into the league." This not satisfatory, but no other meaning has been given. It is on buckskin thongs.

 

The Great Law of Peace is shared from generation to generation through oral tradition using a series of wampum belts, held by the confederacy, to help to share the story.

Purchased by the institution in 1898, collected by Paige Richmond from the Onondaga, the same year earlier. Repatriated to the Haudenosaunee Council 1989.

Reference:

Beauchamp. 1901. NYS Museum Bulletin

Kryger, C. Hayehwatha Institute