Editing New Jersey (section)

===Prehistoric era===
{{See also|Paleontology in New Jersey}}
The pressure of collision between [[North America]] and [[Africa]] gave rise to the [[Appalachian Mountains]]. Around 18,000 years ago, the [[Wisconsin glaciation|Ice Age]] resulted in [[glacier]]s that reached New Jersey. As glaciers retreated, they left behind [[Lake Passaic]] along with rivers, [[meadow]]s, swamps, and [[gorge]]s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of the Great Swamp |url=https://www.greatswamp.org/history-great-swamp/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911024925/https://www.greatswamp.org/history-great-swamp/ |archive-date=September 11, 2017 |access-date=June 11, 2024 |website=greatswamp.org |publisher=Great Swamp Watershed Association |language=en-US}}</ref>

Since the [[6th millennium BC]], [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] people have inhabited New Jersey, beginning with the [[Lenape|Lenape tribe]]. ''{{lang|unm|Scheyichbi}}'' is the [[Unami language|Lenape]] name for the land that represents present-day New Jersey.<ref>{{cite web |last=Stockton |first=Frank R. |year=1896 |title=The Story of the Discovery of Scheyichbi |url=http://www.getnj.com/storiesofnewjersey/sojpg9a.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104212625/http://www.getnj.com/storiesofnewjersey/sojpg9a.shtml |archive-date=January 4, 2014 |access-date=February 8, 2013 |website=Stories of New Jersey |publisher=GET NJ}}</ref> The Lenape were several [[Autonomy|autonomous]] groups that practiced [[maize]] agriculture in order to supplement their hunting and gathering in the region surrounding the [[Delaware River]], the lower [[Hudson River]], and western [[Long Island Sound]]. The Lenape were divided into [[Matrilineality|matrilineal]] clans that were based upon common female ancestors. Clans were organized into three distinct [[phratry|phratries]] identified by their animal sign: [[Turtle]], [[Turkey (bird)|Turkey]], and [[Wolf]]. They first encountered the [[Dutch colonization of the Americas|Dutch]] in the early 17th century, and their primary relationship with the Dutch and later European settlers was through [[fur trade]].