THE INDIANS OF LENAPEHOKING (The Lenape or Delaware Indians) By HERBERT C.KRAFT NCE JOHN T. KRAFT < fi Seventeenth Century Indian Bands in Lenapehoking tN SCALE: 0 2 5 W A P P I N Q E R • ' miles CONNECTICUT •"A. MINISS ININK fy -N " \ PROTO-MUNP R O T 0 - M U S E*fevj| ANDS; Kraft, Herbert rrcrcr The Tndians nf PENNSYLVANIA KRA hoking OKEHOCKING >l ^J? / / DELAWARE DEMCO NO . 32 •234 \ RINGVyOOP PUBLIC LIBRARY, NJ N7 3 6047 09045385 2 THE INDIANS OF LENAPEHOKING by HERBERT C. KRAFT and JOHN T. KRAFT ILLUSTRATIONS BY JOHN T. KRAFT 1985 Seton Hall University Museum South Orange, New Jersey 07079 145 SKYLAND3 ROAD RINGWOOD, NEW JERSEY 07456 THE INDIANS OF LENAPEHOKING: Copyright(c)1985 by Herbert C. Kraft and John T. Kraft, Archaeological Research Center, Seton Hall University Museum, South Orange, Mew Jersey. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book--neither text, maps, nor illustrations--may be reproduced in any way, including but not limited to photocopy, photograph, or other record without the prior agreement and written permission of the authors and publishers, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. For information address Dr. Herbert C. Kraft, Archaeological Research Center, Seton Hall University Museum, South Orange, Mew Jersey, 07079 Library of Congress Catalog Number: 85-072237 ISBN: 0-935137-00-9 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The research, text, illustrations, and printing of this book were made possible by a generous Humanities Grant received from the New Jersey Department of Higher Education in 1984. The author greatfully acknowledge the valuable assistance rendered by the following: Educational Consultants: Marguerite Chenel-Guarisco, North Warren Regional High School; Carol Marlowe, Rahway Public Library; Laura Fuhro, Berkeley Heights Public Library. Editorial Consultants: Drs. Thomas Marlowe, Donald Me Kenna and John David Sweeney, Seton Hall University; Joan E. Kraft and Howard Ziegler; and Eberhard Grosse, University printer. Native American Indian Consultants: James "Lone Bear" Revey, New Jersey Indian Of- fice, The late Nora Thompson Dean, "Touching Leaves," and James Rementer Touching Leaves Indian Crafts, Dewey, Oklahoma. James Rementer also provided the Lenape words and translations used in this book. The following educators gave a great deal of time, and also brought much classroom experience and professional expertise to this project: Sandy Ginsburg, Andy Rovito and Neva Brown of the Tinton Falls Public School System; Mary G.Clark, Mendham Township Middle School; Alan J. Lucibello, Montville High School; and Ken Donahue, Collier School, Wickatunk, N.J. Seton Hall University provided research, laboratory and support facilities. To one and all I acknowledge appreciation and a debt of gratitude. It is hoped that this book will provide teachers, students, Native Americans and other readers with stimulating and factual insights concerning the Lenape and Munsee Indians and their prehistoric antecedents, and give them an enhanced sense of an ancient and valued heritage. June 1, 1985 Herbert C. KrafL TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements ii Time Line iv Introduction 1 The Indians of Lenapehoking 2 Creation Myths of the Lenape Indians 3 Paleo-lndians, the First Americans 4 Archaic Hunters, Fishers and Gatherers 8 From Soapstone Pots to Brass Kettles 12 The Early and Middle Woodland Periods 13 The Meadowood and Adena People 14 The Late Woodland Period 16 Gardening 17 Housing 18 Lenape Lifeways 20 Tools and Weapons 22 Travel and Transportation 24 Entertainment and Recreation 25 Clothing and Personal Adornment 26 Pottery Making 28 Religious Beliefs 29 Curing 32 The Medicine Bundle 34 Life Cycle 35 Death and Burial 37 The Historic Period 38 The Lenape Indians Today 40 A Lenape Story in the Lenape Language 41 Glossary of Selected Terms 42 Index 43 Lenape Words and Translations 44 Indian Place Names 45 Selected Bibliography 46 MAJOR EVENTS MAJOR EVENTS IN LENAPEHOKING IN WORLD HISTORY AND AMERICA Beginnings of humankind to time of the 4,500,000 No humans in Western Hemisphere Neanderthals. Hunting and gathering to 35,000 B.C. people. Emergence of Cro-Magnon and modern 35,000 to Ancestors of Indians cross into Alaska man. Cave paintings and sculptures in 10 ,000 B.C. before 15,000 B.C., arrive in Lenapehok- Western Europe. ing ca. 10,000 B.C. Bow and arrow, and pottery are invented. 10,000 to Nomadic Paleo-lndians hunt with fluted Begin plant and animal domestication in 8,000 B.C. spears. Animals in Lenapehoking include Asia Minor. Jerico is settled. mastodon, caribou and walrus, dog may have been domesticated. Villages spread throughout the Middle 8,000 to Early Archaic hunting and gathering East. Loom is invented, sheep and cattle 6,000 B.C. bands. Constant wandering in search of are domesticated. food. Wild animals and plants similar to today. Copper metallurgy, sailing ships, first 6,000 to Middle Archaic Indians. Spears, heavy cities in Mesopotamia. 4,000 B.C. woodworking tools. No metal, no domesticated plants. Wheel and writing invented in Late Archaic Indians. Spear-hunting, Mesopotamia. Egypt is united and 4,000 to fishing, gathering of wild plants, nuts and pyramids are built, silk is produced in 2,000 B.C. berries. Corn is domesticated in Mexico, China, Stonehenge is built in England. potatoes in Peru. Chickens and elephants domesticated in 2,000 to Terminal Archaic period. First cooking Indus Valley, horse tamed in Central Asia, 1,000 B.C. pots made from soapstone. Some crema- Civilization emerges in China, Hebrew ex- tion burials with grave goods. Olmec odus from Egypt (ca. 1240 B.C.) civilization in Mexico, Chavin culture in Peru. Phoenicians develop alphabet (ca. 900 Early Woodland period. Mound-builder B.C.), first Olympics (ca. 776 B.C.), Rome 1,000 to cultures in Ohio Valley. Adena traders br- founded (ca. 753 B.C.), Age of Buddha, 0 B.C. ing exotic trade goods to Lenapehoking. Confucius, Socrates (ca. 550 B.C.), First pottery vessels appear in Golden Age of Athens (ca. 460 B.C.), Lenapehoking. Gold metal work in Peru, Jesus Christ is born. Monte Alban is constructed in Mexico. Fall of Rome (476), beginning of Islam A.D. 1 Middle Woodland period. Bow and arrow (622), Golden Age of Ghana (ca. 920), Lief to 1000 is introduced. Hopewell culture in Ericson discovers Vineland (ca. 1001). Midwest and Temple Mound culture in Southeast, Teotehuacan in Central Mex- ico. Maya civilization in Yucatan. Norman Conquest (1066), Marco Polo A.D.1000 Late Woodland period. In Lenapehoking, corn, beans and squash now grown in visits China (ca. 1271), Columbus to 1600 discovers America (1492), Cortez con- gardens. Dog in only domesticated quers Aztecs in 1521, Verrazano enters animal. Hunting, fishing and gathering New York harbor (1524). are still important. Cliff dwellings in Southwest. Beginning of Aztec empire (1325), beginning of In'ca empire (1438). Hudson sails up Hudson River (1609), Early historic period. European colonists New Netherland is founded (1624), New A.D. 1600 and traders introduce European trade York and New Jersey become English col- to 1758 items; diseases and rum claim many In- onies (1664), French and Indian Wars dian lives. Land is sold. Treaty of Easton (1754-1763). (1758) causes Indians to leave Lenapehoking and move to Oklahoma and Canada. The message on this petroglyph, the largest and most important prehistoric rock carving found in New Jesey to date, cannot be deciphered. The figures (pictographs) were carved about five hundred to one thousand years ago. Found near Dingman's Ferry in Sussex County, N.J. (Collection of Seton Hall University Museum.) INTRODUCTION When European explorers and settlers came casins and face paint in remembrance of an to this land about four hundred years ago, they earlier way of life. found it already occupied by Indians who had North American Indians had no written been here for thousands of years. Today, history. In fact, they had no writing, except for names like Hackensack, Hoboken, Manhattan, the use of pictures, or pictographs, some of Hopatcong and Raritan remind us of this Indian which were carved on stone. Much information heritage. By the mid-eighteenth century most was also lost because European colonists did Indians had been forced to move west, but not appreciate or understand the Indians' some remained and their descendants are still language and culture. Archaeologists, an- living here today. We probably would not thropologists, and historians, aided by recognize these Indians today because they descendants of the Lenape and Munsee In- wear clothes like ours, live in houses like ours, dians, have been able to rediscover the ancient drive cars, and eat the same types of foods we ways. They have also been able to correct do. Only at occasional pow-wows* and tribal mistaken ideas so that we can better under- gatherings do some Native Americans put on stand and appreciate the culture of the Native feather headdresses, beaded clothing, moc- Americans. *The italicized words and those in bold type are identified in the glossary (p. 42) or in the list of selected Indian words (p. 44). v\ I THE INDIANS ple of Lenapehoking had no tribal structure and no powerful chiefs or spiritual leaders. OF LENAPEHOKING These self-sufficient people lived in small bands in which men and boys hunted, fished The term "Indian," even though inaccurate, and did the heavy work while women and has been used for so many centuries that the children gathered wild plant foods and gar- native people and the general public have dened. come to accept it. The Indians who formerly The prehistoric ancestors of the Lenape lived in the lower half of Lenapehoking called (those living here before European contact) did themselves "Lenape," meaning "common" or not keep written records, so we do not know "ordinary" people.