Before the world was filled with the modern cities that it is today, there was simply land covered with grass, forests, dirt, and rocks.  At that time, humans had not yet adapted the concept of agriculture, and survived in a semi-nomadic state.  Their culture, lifestyles and survival depended completely on what they could hunt and catch.  This nomadic existence and people’s ability to adapt to their environment enabled them to survive the harsh conditions of the ice age and, after, the dramatic warming of the climate.  The way of life of these nomadic people not only benefited them, but also was also relatively respectful of the environment.

The Lenape have a legend that has been passed down through generations.  In this legend, the Animal Spirits escaped to the Giants World and would not return until the people promised that they would start treating the Natural Spirits with respect.  It is because of this legend that these nomadic people never abused nature.  They took what they needed to survive and used everything to its fullest extent.  When they would kill a mammoth, they would not only eat the meat, but also use the bones for tools and save other parts for later use.  One mammoth could feed from 20-40 people, and sometimes there would still be carcass left over.

Not only did these people kill sparingly, but they also did not stay in the same place for too long.  They needed to go where the food was, and when the food has four legs; the food is not likely to stay in the same place for an extended period of time.  This constant moving was beneficial to the environment.  Although these people disturbed the ecosystem where they stayed, it was not devastating.  The Lenapes were only in one place for a relatively short period of time; and when they left, it was fairly simple for the ecosystem to repair itself.  Now, people have stayed in the same place for so long, some ecosystems have been permanently altered.

When the mammoths, mastodons and giant beavers no longer walked the earth, the Early Archaic people had to learn to adapt and find a new food source.  Indeed, as the culture was completely dependent on these animals, it was very probable that some died out, while others split in search of a new way of life.  Some were able to diversify their diet with elk, caribou, fish, rabbit and acorns.  To adapt, they discovered that boiling the acorns made them edible, without the bitter taste.  They kept moving, always settling for a time near water, and then moving to the next camping grounds.  It was not until the population grew to an extent that there was not enough hunting grounds did they have to turn to a bigger, more stable food source: agriculture.  But until then, these nomadic people did not kill in excess; they took what they needed and nothing more.  Then, the environment could sustain us as a visitor, but as a permanent houseguest today, we seem to be on a path headed for destruction.