My Precious. Photography and Text by Keith R WahlSelect Image or Title to See in a Larger Format - See More Below On the Shores of Aguntang Brook The purple tint often (but not always) found in Quahog shells is the signature of the species shell. The purple has a common name of "Wampum". In brief, the term "Wampum" is the name of the white and especially purple beads. Wampum beads are special to the attire of Native Americans of North America. They had a common European interpretation of money. This is an oversimplification of what wampum actually is. Strings of wampum are important in storytelling, ceremonies, marking of historical events, and recording treaties and other events. The interpretation of money gave the quahog its species name: "Mercenaria mercenaria". Carl Linnaeus of Sweden coined the name based on this interpretation in 1758. "Mercenaria" is from the Latin for "wages". Having read the oversimplified association between wampum and money, he gave the name to science. On the shore of Aguntang Brook in Narragansett, Rhode Island, we contemplate this find of a trove of purple lined quahog shells. The find is quite precious and we respect the shells and their history in these photos.
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Keywords:
aguntang brook,
beach,
Keith R Wahl,
Made From RI Gallery,
narragansett,
nature,
Photography,
quahog shell,
rhode island,
sea shell,
shell,
storytelling
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