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Rai stones (Stone Money) are large, circular stone disks carved out of limestone.
Yapese quarried the limestone rocks from the islands of Palau and took them to
Yap with canoes and bamboo rafts.
They have been and are still used as a form of currency.
The value of a specific stone is based not only on its size
and craftsmanship but also on the history of the stone. If many people
died when the specific stone was transported, or a famous
sailor brought it in, the value of the rai stone increases.
Rai stones were used in social transactions such as marriage, inheritance,
political deals, sign of an alliance, ransom of the battle dead or just in
exchange for food. Many of them are placed in front of meeting houses or
specific pathways. Though the ownership of a particular stone changes, the
stone itself is rarely moved. The names of previous owners are passed down to the new one.
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