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Prior to New Jersey's establishment, the first residents of the land that would come to be known as New Jersey were Native Americans known to the Europeans as Delaware Indians. They lived in this area since "at least 10,000 years ago." The Delaware Indians spoke an Algonquian dialect. Hangout nj source #1 argues that these Delaware Indians placed the family unit as greater in importance than the overall community, not acting "as one unified group." Men hunted and fished during the day, along the coast and in forests. Agriculture was women's work; women tended gardens and grew "squash, beans, sweet potatoes, and corn." According to the source, the Indians name "Delaware" meant "original people" or "genuine people," although the source also mentions that this name was given to the Indians by Europeans.

Works Cited

"A Short History of New Jersey: Delaware Indians." //Hangout NJ//. NJ.gov. Web. 18 Jun. 2014.