Ancestral Landscape and Territorial Markers in The Land Division of the Austronesian Community

Putri Novita Taniardi

This article examines land division in the Krowe indigenous community in East Nusa Tenggara, within the broader Austronesian cultural tradition, with particular attention to its archaeological implications. Situating Krowe land tenure within an Austronesian socio-cultural framework, the study explores how spatial organization, kinship structures, and customary law (adat) shape patterns of land ownership, inheritance, and territorial segmentation. Using qualitative methods, including ethnographic observation, interviews, and spatial analysis, the research identifies the principles that govern communal authority and boundary formation. A distinctive feature of Krowe land division is the use of menhirs as symbolic and material markers of territorial boundaries. These standing stones function not only as physical indicators of land limits but also as sacred monuments embodying ancestral presence, ritual legitimacy, and collective memory. From an archaeological perspective, these practices offer critical insight into the interpretation of megalithic remains across eastern Indonesia and the wider Austronesian world. This study highlights the role of menhirs in structuring social space and legitimizing territorial rights. By integrating ethnographic data with archaeological interpretation, the article contributes to broader debates on the relationship between living traditions and material culture. This approach underscores the importance of ethnoarchaeology in reconstructing past land tenure systems and in understanding the socio-political dimensions of megalithic landscapes.