Body Symbolism and Cultural Aesthetics: The Use of Shell Beads and Ornaments by Delaware and Munsee Groups

Abstract

The important role of wampum in trade relations, and other social contexts, among indigenous groups and Europeans in the coastal and interior New York state areas is well-documented. The use and meaning of ornaments of shell and wampum among neighboring groups, such as the Munsee and Delaware, however, has not been comprehensively examined. Recent research, which focused on how these two indigenous groups integrated Europan trade goods, also identified notable trends in their use of shell, which became increasingly accessible through trade during the post-contact era. These trends are best understood within the context of indigenous symbolic systems focused on the body.