SUMMARY
AbstractThe purpose of this paper was to reveal the past culture of Garawangi community in Kuningan and its connection with Islamization through a headstone and grave ornaments in ancient tombs in the region. Data obtained based on the results of archaeological research in the area of Islamic Garawangi - Kuningan in 2014 which is used a survey method that is equipped with literature studies and interviews. From this research, shape of the gravestone on ancient tombs in the region was an upright stone, no ornate on flat headstones, and decorated flat headstone. Kinds of ornament headstone were geometric such as circle (medallion), floristic tendrils. Based on the distribution of the type of gravestones, tombs in the Garawangi Region were included in the distribution of types of Demak-Troloyo headstone. Type of Demak-Troloyo headstone used by Muslim religious leaders in the past as a headstone on their grave, as shown in the tomb area of Sunan Gunung Jati Cirebon, Raden Patah in Demak, and some ancient tombs in Troloyo. Through the tombstone shape, it can be concluded that the public of Garawangi in the past were influenced by Javanese culture, along with the entry and development of Islam in these regions. Keywords: Islam, tomb, sepulcher, gravestone AbstrakTujuan tulisan ini adalah ingin mengungkap budaya masa lalu masyarakat Garawangi Kabupaten Kuningan hubungannya dengan islamisasi melalui bentuk nisan dan ragam hias nisan pada makam-makam kuna di kawasan tersebut. Data diperoleh berdasarkan hasil penelitian arkeologis Islam di kawasan Garawangi - Kuningan pada tahun 2014 dengan metode survei yang dilengkapi studi kepustakaan, dan wawancara. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian bentuk nisan pada makam-makam kuna di kawasan tersebut berupa batu tegak, nisan pipih tidak berhias, dan nisan pipih berhias. Ragam hias nisan berornamen geometris berupa lingkaran (mendalion), sulur-sulur floraistis. Berdasarkan dari pembagian tipe nisan maka nisan-nisan makam di kawasan Garawangi termasuk dalam persebaran nisan tipe Demak-Troloyo. Tipe nisan Demak-Troloyo dipakai oleh para tokoh agama Islam pada masa lampau sebagai nisan pada makam mereka, seperti yang tampak pada kompleks makam Sunan Gunung Jati di Cirebon, Raden Patah di Demak, dan beberapa makam kuna di Troloyo. Melalui bentuk nisan tersebut dapat disimpulkan bahwa masyarakat Garawangi masa lalu mendapat pengaruh budaya Jawa seiring dengan masuk dan berkembangnya Islam di kawasan tersebut. Kata Kunci: Islam, makam, jirat, nisan