Editing Lenape People (section)

== History and Origins ==

The Lenape presence in the Delaware Valley extends back at least 10,000 years, with archaeological evidence suggesting continuous habitation since the end of the last Ice Age. The Lenape were not a single unified tribe but rather a collection of autonomous bands and villages united by language, culture, and kinship ties. They organized themselves into three main clans or phratries: the Turtle (Unami), the Turkey (Unalachtigo), and the Wolf (Munsee). The Philadelphia region fell primarily within the territory of the Turtle Clan, who spoke the Unami dialect of the Lenape language.<ref name="kraft">{{cite book |last=Kraft |first=Herbert C. |title=The Lenape-Delaware Indian Heritage: 10,000 BC to AD 2000 |year=2001 |publisher=Lenape Books |location=Elizabeth, NJ}}</ref>

The Lenape lived in small villages typically consisting of several longhouses or wigwams constructed from bent saplings covered with bark. These villages were often located near waterways, which provided transportation routes, fresh water, and abundant fish. The Lenape practiced a mixed economy of hunting, fishing, gathering, and agriculture. Women cultivated fields of corn, beans, and squash—known as the "Three Sisters"—while men hunted deer, elk, bear, and smaller game throughout the surrounding forests. Seasonal movements were common, with families relocating to take advantage of fish runs, nut harvests, and hunting opportunities.<ref name="weslager">{{cite book |last=Weslager |first=C.A. |title=The Delaware Indians: A History |year=1972 |publisher=Rutgers University Press |location=New Brunswick, NJ}}</ref>