Oral

According to native Sumba historians, Sumba Island was once connected to its neighbouring islands to the north of Sumba, namely Flores and Sumbawa; and to reach the Flores Island itself specifically, it was connected by the ancient stone bridge built by the native of Sumba–Flores which was known as Kataka Lindiwatu in Sumba languages.[1] Due to the high level of socialization around the Kataka Lindiwatu which connected both islands, the civilization was thought to arise from around those regions (which nowadays corresponds to northern Sumba, and part of East Sumba regency territory); this information was examined through the Sumba oral traditions as was later written in the 21st century by Umbu Pura Woha (2007) in his book Sejarah, Musyawarah dan Adat Istiadat Sumba Timur (lit. 'History, Deliberation and Customs of East Sumba').[1]

Ancient civilization ruins  One of the monolith structures in West Sumba.

The ruins of the historical civilization of the Sumba people dates back to the BC era; for instance, megalithic burials were found on the central regions of the island (Central Sumba) which goes back to thousands of years ago. These stone-based burial traditions are still kept alive by the Sumba people and have become a 'living ancient tradition' that still can be observed by scholars in modern days.[2] The megalithic remains found on Sumba Island include dolmen tombs, upright stones, megalithic statues, stone enclosures, and levelled terraces.[3] The Sumba megalithic tradition itself was characterized by the old megaliths built and carved in high quality.[3] Some ancient tools are also found on the island, some notable findings have been at the Anakalang land (a cultural region of Anakalang Sumba, a subethnic group of Sumba people), where quadrangular adzes have been unearthed.[4]

Javanese power

Around the 12th century, the kingdom of Singhasari in eastern Java gained more power over the maritime Southeast Asian territory after the kingdom defeated the Mongols; since then, this kingdom evolved into the empire known as Majapahit. Sumba Island was a subject of Majapahit's dominion, and the word "Sumba" itself was first officially used during the Majapahit era (mentioned in the ancient Javanese manuscripts of Pararaton and Sumpah Palapa oath of Gajah Mada); the word itself was thought as the closest substitution in Javanese for the native name of the island according to native Sumba people, which is Humba or Hubba. The Javanese people was predicted to arrived on the Sumba Island via the Madura and Kangean route, it was examined through the analysis on the DNA of chicken species on Sumba that are naturally only endemic to the eastern regions of Java and its neighbouring islands (which in these case, most probably Kangean Island).[5]

European colonizations

In 1522, the native Sumba came into contact with the Europeans (Portuguese) who arrived on the island by ships to exploit the natural resources of the island. Later, it also attracted the Dutch VOC to come in the region in circa 1600s era. Historically, sandalwood was the main commodity exported to Europe from this island, thus the Sumba Island back then colloquially also known as the Sandalwood Island[6] or Sandel Island (in English).

 The governmental seal of Dutch colonization at Watuhadang of Umalulu district in East Sumba.

As the time goes by, in 1866, the island of Sumba was later transferred to and dominated by the following Dutch East Indies colonization power. The well-known Christianization of the natives of Sumba Island was started in 1886 by the Dutch under the Douwe Wielenga Jesuits missionary program in the district of Laura in West Sumba.[7]