The Stone Money of Yap - Smithsonian Institution

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ABSTRACT Gillilland, Cora Lee C. The Stone Money of Yap: A Numismatic Survey. Smithsonian Studies in History and Technology, number 23, 75 pages, 33 figures, 1 graph, 1 table, frontispiece, 1975.—This synopsis of the history and role of rai or stone money of Yap within the culture of the islands has been drawn from the accounts of early travelers, anthropologists, and administrators in the Western Pacific. The descriptions, quarrying practices, and shipping methods of these stones are discussed, as well as some of the "myths" that have grown up around these large primitive media of exchange. Early and more recent "exchange values" of the stones are traced within the islands, as well as in the international numismatic world. The location and pertinent data of 149 pieces of stone money removed from Yap and now in public and private collections throughout the world are provided within the table for reference and comparison of sizes, dates and history of accession. Sixty-four stones are illustrated, providing one of the most thorough studies of Yapese rai now available. OFFICIAL PUBLICATION DATE is handstamped in a limited number of initial copies and is recorded in the Institution's annual report, Smithsonian Tear. SI PRESS NUMBER 5296. Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Gillilland, Cora Lee C. The stone money of Yap. (Smithsonian studies in history and technology ; no. 23) Bibliography: p. Supt. of Docs, no.: SI 1.28:23 1. Ethnology—Caroline Islands—Yap. 2. Stone money. I. Title. II. Series: Smithsonian Institution. Smithsonian studies in history and technology ; no. 23. DU568.Y3G54 332.4'996'6 75-619047 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402-Price $1.70 (paper cover) Stock Number 047-001-00122-2
Preface This paper reviews the early history of the rai or stone money of Yap as reported by early foreign travelers and relates these stories to more recent observations, both of which comprise the "mythology" of stone money. I have compiled information documenting the location and acquisition of pieces that have been taken out of Yap, and by so doing I have attempted to provide some basis for a comparison of the stones. By private correspondence I contacted all institutions listed in the tables and the data I have used was drawn from these sources. The private owners were either contacted personally or the data employed was obtained from the Yap District Administrator's file on stone money. The rai numeration given in the tables and illustrations is according to my own system derived from arrangement of the stones by location and ownership. In the "Notes," HRAF refers to the page number of the translated work in the Human Relations Area Files at the Federal City College, Washington, D.C. In the appendixes, the spelling and wording of quoted material is that of the original documents. A great deal of invaluable assistance was received from individuals here in the United States, as well as from residents of Micronesia, whose contributions are acknowledged either in the text or in the notes. Without the assistance and cooperation of colleagues in museums and institutions around the world this work could not have been accomplished. I specifically wish to thank Dr. Saul Riesenberg, Senior Ethnologist, Department of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, for his great generosity and assistance; and Dr. Vladimir Clain-Stefanelli, Chairman, Department of Applied Arts, and Curator, Division of Numismatics, National Museum of History and Technology, Smithsonian Institution; as well as Mrs. Elvira Clain-Stefanelli, Curator, Division of Numismatics, National Museum of History and Technology, Smithsonian Institution, for their usual superior professional guidance and encouragement in this project.
Page 1: Y -•' ^e Stone Money * $ • .
Page 4 and 5: Bringing of Rai to a festival, Yap,
Page 9: Contents PREFACE v INTRODUCTION 1 A
Page 12 and 13: Accounts of Foreign Voyagers Yap Is
Page 14 and 15: He then adds that he "handed them a
Page 16 and 17: its agent. 53 This firm took over t
Page 18 and 19: The Maze of Scientific Accounts Des
Page 20 and 21: 10 SMITHSONIAN STUDIES IN HISTORY A
Page 26 and 27: Local Interpretation of Value A Jud
Page 30 and 31: 20 chipped and then ground, at leas
Page 32 and 33: On 20 January 1961, the case of Cho
Page 34 and 35: 24 now in question had been given t
Page 36 and 37: TRUST TERRITORY OF THE PACIFIC ISLA
Page 38 and 39: 1 A comparison of a primitive mediu
Page 56 and 57:
46 SMITHSONIAN STUDIES IN HISTORY A
Page 58 and 59:
Page 60 and 61:
Page 62 and 63:
Page 64 and 65:
Page 67 and 68:
NUMBER 23 FIGURE l.—i?ai numbers
Page 69 and 70:
NUMBER 23 /^:Y«Y§Y "^^^^^^^O l j
Page 71 and 72:
NUMBER 23 61 FIGURE 8.—Rai number
Page 73 and 74:
NUMBER 23 63 mm? A FIGURE 10.—Rai
Page 75 and 76:
NUMBER 23 65 FIGURE 14.—Rai numbe
Page 77 and 78:
NUMBER 23 67 FIGURE 20.—Rai: a, n
Page 79 and 80:
NUMBER 23 • FIGURE 21.—Rai: a,
Page 81 and 82:
NUMBER 23 FIGURE 26.—Rai number 8
Page 83 and 84:
NUMBER 23 73 FIGURE 29.—Rai numbe
Page 85:
NUMBER 23 U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING
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The Stone Money of Yap - Smithsonian Institution

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