wampum, white and purple (of uneven colour); plant fibre warp (possibly hemp); unevenly twisted plant fibre weft; ochre residue (?)

The wide warp is made of multiple strands of plant fibre twisted together, coarser than those usually used to make wampum belts. The Pitt Rivers Museum Object Catalogue description states this belt was "machine-made/perforated/strung." After examining the twists in the thread, CW said it was probably loom woven.

CW noticed that a date, 1766, is represented in white beads on the "path" part of the motif.

RP suggested the motifs symbolize two entities being linked by a peace path. However, CW noticed the two asymmetrical motifs separated by the path appear to be two parts of a date, "17" and "66."

LP noted that this belt's overall design appears cruder in comparison to others. CW noted that the unusually coarse warp threads have an aesthetic impact on the belt. HB said that 1766 was a tumultuous period and people may have had fewer material choices available to them. However, RP added that there were a wide range of options for warp/weft materials at this time. RP suggested Moseley's correspondence may help to interpret the date on this belt.

The date of "1766" on belt strongly suggests 1766 as an approximate date of manufacture. It was made before 1887. The date motif on the belt strongly suggests that it was made in conjunction with a diplomatic ceremony that occured in 1766.

Donated to the Pitt Rivers Museum by naturalist Henry Nottidge Moseley in 1887. The Pitt Rivers Object catalogue states, "It is possible that this was collected while he [Prof. H.N. Moseley] was in Canada, as other wampum belts were circulating to collectors around that time. .HB notes that many belts with dates in the design field were commissioned by British officials such as William Johnson, and wonders whether this may have been the case for this belt as well.

This record was created as part of a Great Lakes Research Alliance for the Study of Aboriginal Arts and Cultures (GRASAC) research trip to the Pitt Rivers Museum and British Museum, December 8-22 2007, funded by a grant from the International Opportunities fund of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).

researchers present: Heidi Bohaker (HB), Stacey Loyer (SL), Janis Monture (JM), Laura Peers (LP), Ruth Phillips (RP), Anne De Stecher (AS), Cory Willmott (CW).