Within the Haunting Bedrock of Lower Manhattan: The Munsee Lenape

Before European colonization, a network of seasonal roads crisscrossed a biologically diverse ecosystem in what is now Lower Manhattan. The Munsee Lenape called it “Manahatta” (the island of many hills). Rather than build permanent structures, the Lenape favored seasonal encampments. One major site, Sapokanikan, sat near modern-day Greenwich Village, on the shores of Minetta Brook, a trout stream. Another site known as the Werpoes was a Lenape settlement on the southwestern shore of the Collect Pond in lower Manhattan, used for fishing and planting. The massive, 60-foot-deep freshwater pond was near modern-day Foley Square. The Wickquasgeeck Trail was the primary north-south trade path through the dense forests. In modern times, it would be called Broadway and runs from the southern tip of Manhattan through the Bronx, following the route that connected the ancient Lenape to their outer regions.

Land, water, and animals were sacred relatives to be respected. The Lenape cultivated corn, beans, and squash together to preserve soil nutrients. In legend, this planting became known as “The Three Sisters.” Lower Manhattan was a dense forest of oaks and chestnuts, home to white-tailed deer, bears, turkeys, and wild berries before the white man’s arrival. The surrounding waters on the southern tip of the island provided oyster beds, shad, sturgeon, and striped bass.

The Turtle, Wolf, and Turkey totems guided the Lenape matrilineal clan structure. Leaders, or sachems, governed through persuasion and community consensus rather than absolute rule or coercive force. Usually, men served as sachems, but the clan traced its lineage through the mother’s line. Senior women exerted significant influence in decision-making.

Before 1626, when the Dutch colonial governor Peter Minuit “bought” Manhattan, the Lenape did not know “ownership”. They viewed the transaction as a temporary agreement. The days before the purchase were likely the last time that man honored Lower Manhattan for its spiritual and ecological value rather than its financial worth.

Next Tuesday, we’ll look at the next layer of the haunting bedrock of Lower Manhattan: the New Amsterdam Settlement (c. 1626-1650).