They lived in Papua New Guinea, a part of Indonesia. The tribes of peoples living in Papua New Guinea were called Papuan. For the Papuan shells were not just shells, they played a very important role in their lives. They saw the shells as a powerful possession and used them as a sign of wealth and even as a currency. Even though the Papuan dispose of a “real” currency now, status-implying transact
ions (such as dowries in marriage ceremonies and the repay of tribal debts) are still partly paid in shells. Besides using the shells as a currency, the Papuan made beautiful necklaces with them, the Tribes shell necklaces. These necklaces were worn with pride to many traditional ceremonies. The most important ceremony was the marriage ceremony. The Papuan still regularly wear their beautiful Tribes shell necklaces today and live happily ever after.
