Cipto Herianto Lou Gadung Pengarang Jermy Imanuel Balukh Dosen Pembimbing 1 Greis Evalinda Dosen Pembimbing 2 Prof. Dr. Fransiskus Bustan, M.Lib Penguji 2 Greis Evalinda, S.Pd., M.Pd Penguji 1 Jermy Imanuel Balukh Ketua Penguji

This study examines the symbols of megalithic stones in Kambata Wundut Village, East Sumba, through a cultural semiotic perspective. The research questions in this study are (1) what are the form of symbols of the megalithic stones and (2) what are the meanings of symbols of the megalithic stones. With a qualitative approach, data collection was carried out through direct observation, interviews with traditional elders (wunangu), and visual documentation of carvings of megalithic stones. The analysis applied Ferdinand de Saussure's semiotic theory, which focuses on the relationship between signifiers (physical symbols) and signifieds (cultural meaning). The research findings show the prominent symbols on megalithic stones, namely the karambo ‘buffalo’, which represents wealth and ancestral offerings; the njara ‘horse’, which symbolizes heroism and spiritual transportation; the rooster manu ‘rooster’, which shows vigilance and the agricultural cycle; the woya ‘crocodile’, which embodies protection and cosmic relationships; and mamuli ‘geometric patterns’, which reflect the cyclical nature of life. These symbols collectively contain the meanings of ancestor worship, social hierarchy, and cosmological beliefs, which strengthen the spiritual and cultural continuity of the community. These symbols collectively encode ancestral worship, social hierarchy, and cosmological beliefs, which reinforce the spiritual and cultural continuity of the community. This study explains the urgency of preserving these symbols amidst modernization, where the younger generation increasingly views them as mere art, rather than cultural heritage. By bridging semiotic theory and ethnographic insights, this study contributes to understanding how megalithic symbols function as dynamic cultural texts, advocating for their preservation as vital expressions of Sumbanese identity and ancestral wisdom. Keywords: culture, symbols, megalithic stones, meanings, semiotics