Скачать или смотреть 5 Tons stone currency

There is an island in the Pacific called Yap that uses circular stones as currency. These stones are large, circular disks made of limestone, with a hole in the center. They can stand as high as 12 feet, and weigh as much as 5 tons. The rye stones were not produced on Yap Island but were instead imported from neighboring islands.

The stones were highly valued by the Yapise and used for important ceremonial gifts. The ownership of a large stone, which would be too difficult to move, was established by its history as recorded in oral tradition rather than by its location. This means that even if a stone is physically located in one place, it could be owned by someone else.

The transfer of ownership is done orally. While the US dollar is the common currency in YAP today, the stone money is still used for major transactions, like payment of dowry or purchase of land.