Quahogs, known elsewhere as hard-shell clams, are a key part of Rhode Island's culture and economy. The name "quahog" comes from the Narragansett word "poquauhock," and different sizes of quahogs have ...

The purplish shells of quahogs, treasured in the past by Native Americans, now appear alongside gold, mother-of-pearl and onyx. By Jill Newman For centuries Native Americans treasured quahog shells, ...

The purple pigment on the inside of the quahog shell was used by the native Lenape to make beads that were part of wampum belts. (Clay Wollney) The shells of the hard clam, or quahog as it was known ...