Takelma Trade

Trading was an important aspect of life for the different Indian groups in southwestern Oregon. Typically, during the summer months, the Takelma would meet with members of other Native groups to trade and to celebrate. Some of the trade items included salmon (both fresh and dried), deer hides and meat, sugar-pine nuts, salt, basketry items, obsidian, and dentalium and abalone shells.

Trade item Baked or dried meat

Trade item Fresh salmon

Trade item Deer hide

Trade item Porcupine quills Basketry Item

Trade item Obsidian

Dentalium shells were imported from north of Vancouver Island, British Columbia and were particularly valuable as a medium of exchange, like money today. They were also considered to be beautiful and were stitched onto clothing or strung on necklaces. Strings of dentalium were measured along a man's arm to establish the value of the particular string of shells.

Dentalium shells

Dentalium necklace Collection of Southern Oregon University Department of Anthropology