Rai stones (as they are called in the language of the people of the Yap Islands located in the Pacific Ocean), or stone money, are more than six thousand large round stone discs carved from limestone.
About size
The largest stones have a diameter of 3.6 meters and a mass of about four tons, the smallest - only 7-8 centimeters in size.
What does the name mean?
Stone money originally came to Yap from the neighboring island of Palau. Several hundred years ago, the inhabitants of Yap went fishing, got lost and accidentally ended up in Palau. There they saw limestone structures that were not on their home island. They broke off a piece of stone and turned it into a whale shape. They brought this "sculpture" home. Hence the name of the stone - "rai", which means "whale" in the local language.
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How did the stone become currency?
At that time, the Yap chiefs were fighting for power. Everything was used as currency, including seashells and turmeric, so the concept of attracting something from the outside that was not on the island was very attractive. The novelty found in Palau prompted other people to travel too and bring more stones. However, this time they were cut in the shape of a full moon with a hole in the middle for sticks, since it was more convenient to transport them this way.
What determines the value of stones?
There are several factors that determine their value. The first is the number of human lives that were lost on the way, during transportation to the island. The second is the manufacturing method. Some of the more modern stones look very polished, which has been achieved with modern metal tools, but they are less valuable than those that look less polished. Early stones were carved with shell tools, making them more valuable. The third factor is whether the stone was dedicated to the chieftain who sponsored the trip to Palau. Size is the fourth factor, but in some cases a small stone may be more valuable than a large one.
How is rai used today?
Nowadays, the inhabitants of the island have switched to dollars. However, stones are still used in important social transactions, such as marriage, inheritance, political deals, as a sign of union, as a ransom for those killed in battle, very rarely - in exchange for food. Many are located in front of meeting houses or along walkways. The physical location of the stone is often irrelevant. Although the ownership of a particular stone may change, the stone itself rarely moves due to its mass and the risk of damage.
The names of the previous owners are transferred to the new one. There was a case when a large paradise sank during transportation. Although it was never seen again, everyone agreed that the stone was at the bottom and continued to use it as currency. It is only important to establish ownership, and where the stone is physically is not so important.
