Early European Accounts of the Lenape in New Jersey

Early European Accounts of the Lenape in New Jersey

First explorers described the Lenape (Delaware) as:

• Peaceful and hospitable to newcomers.
• Skilled hunters, fishers, and farmers living in longhouses.
• Culturally rich with deep spiritual traditions and extensive botanical/zoological knowledge.
• Active traders within vast intertribal networks.

These observations highlight a sophisticated society that shaped the region long before European settlement.