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CategoriesRock-cut sites
Temples, tombs and churches carved directly from living rock.
🇮🇷 Iran · Rock art
Elamite (c.2000–1000 BCE; peak Middle Elamite c.1500) · Elamite (Kurangun shrine of Inshushinak)
Kurangun is a massive Elamite open-air rock-cut shrine (20×7 m) on Mamasani cliff with 15 divine figures in low relief — gods enthroned, worshippers and fish-go...
🇬🇷 Greece · Rock-cut
Moche (100–800 CE) · Moche
Moss Cairn Rock-Cut Complex in Thessaly, Greece is a Moche (100–800 CE) rock_cut attributed to Moche culture.
🇬🇹 Guatemala · Rock-cut
Iron Age (1200 BCE–500 CE) · Iron Age
Kirk Dock Rock-Cut Complex in Petén, Guatemala is a Iron Age (1200 BCE–500 CE) rock_cut attributed to Iron Age culture.
🇮🇳 India · Temple complex
Shunga–Satavahana Early Buddhism · Hinayana (Theravada) Buddhist
One of India's earliest rock-cut Buddhist complexes (220 BCE–300 CE) on Sahyadri scarp above Indrayani River, with 22 caves.
🇮🇱 Israel · Rock-cut
Roman (300 BCE–500 CE) · Roman
Rock-Cut Tombs of Aber Broch in Negev, Israel is a Roman (300 BCE–500 CE) rock_cut attributed to Roman culture.
🇨🇳 China · Rock-cut
Tang to Southern Song ~650–1252 CE · Chinese esoteric Buddhist (Tang–Song)
50,000 Tantric cliff sculptures — China's last Buddhist rock-cut synthesis at Baoding.
🇮🇳 India · Temple complex
Satavahana early historic · Hinayana Buddhist
Twin-cave-cluster Buddhist refuge (100 BCE–100 CE) on forested Sahyadri spur between Bhaja and Karla, celebrated for best-preserved early rock-cut chaitya hall besides Karla — daylight-illuminated…
🇮🇳 India · Rock-cut
Satavahana (100 BCE) Hinayana; repainted 5th c. · Buddhist Hinayana then Mahayana
Ajanta Caves 9–10 — Early Hinayana Group in Maharashtra, India is a Satavahana (100 BCE) Hinayana; repainted 5th c. rock_cut attributed to Buddhist Hinayana then Mahayana.
🇺🇸 United States · Rock-cut
Classical Antiquity (800 BCE–500 CE) · Classical
Altamira Bison Ceiling North in Southwest, United States is a Classical Antiquity (800 BCE–500 CE) rock_cut attributed to Classical culture.
🇨🇳 China · Rock-cut
Sixteen Kingdoms to Yuan (366 – 1368 CE) northern cells 960–1300 · Buddhist monastic Dunhuang oasis international
North cliff austere monastic cells 1000–1300 CE opposite southern painted scripture halls.
🇮🇳 India · Rock-cut
Late Gupta to Early Chalukya 5th–8th century CE · Hindu (Shaiva) and Buddhist under Kalachuri/Chalukya patronage
Rock-cut Shaiva cave complex on Elephanta Island with colossal Trimurti sculpture, 5th–8th c. CE.
🇮🇳 India · Rock-cut
Pallava dynasty 630–700 CE · Hindu (Shaiva) under Pallava
Pallava seaside rock-cut trials: Shore Temple surviving tsunami and 27-m bas relief.
🇨🇳 China · Rock-cut
Northern Wei to Liao (453 – 525 CE peak) · Buddhist Tanyao imperial under Emperor Wencheng
Western 5 caves 40–45 with Tanyao Buddhas 15 m of Northern Wei Pingcheng capital.
🇮🇳 India · Rock-cut
Rashtrakuta (650–700 CE) · Buddhist (Mahayana final Buddhist at Ellora)
Ellora Cave 10 — Vishwakarma Chaitya in Maharashtra, India is a Rashtrakuta (650–700 CE) rock_cut attributed to Buddhist (Mahayana final Buddhist at Ellora).
🇮🇳 India · Rock-cut
Iron Age (1200 BCE–500 CE) · Bronze Age
Aqueduct Arch Section South in Tamil Nadu, India is a Iron Age (1200 BCE–500 CE) rock_cut attributed to Bronze Age culture.
🇮🇳 India · Rock-cut
Early Medieval (500–1000 CE) · Medieval
Cave Monastery Cell South in Tamil Nadu, India is a Early Medieval (500–1000 CE) rock_cut attributed to Medieval culture.
🇵🇪 Peru · Rock-cut
Early Bronze Age (3000–2000 BCE) · Classical
Pukara Sun Temple West in Cusco, Peru is a Early Bronze Age (3000–2000 BCE) rock_cut attributed to Classical culture.
🇮🇳 India · Rock-cut
Satavahana (200 BCE–300 CE) · Buddhist Hinayana and Mahayana
Pitalkhora Caves — Aurangabad Basalt Vihara in Maharashtra, India is a Satavahana (200 BCE–300 CE) rock_cut attributed to Buddhist Hinayana and Mahayana.
🇮🇳 India · Rock-cut
Rashtrakuta (756–773 CE Krishna I) · Hindu Shaivite
Kailasa North Mandapa — Ellora Cliff Terrace in Maharashtra, India is a Rashtrakuta (756–773 CE Krishna I) rock_cut attributed to Hindu Shaivite.
🇮🇹 Italy · Rock-cut
Late Bronze to Iron Age (1300–650 BCE) · Sikel (Siculi)
Pantalica — Rock-Cut Necropolis in Sicily, Italy is a Late Bronze to Iron Age (1300–650 BCE) rock_cut attributed to Sikel (Siculi).
🇮🇳 India · Rock-cut
Vakataka–Kalachuri (450–600 CE) · Buddhist Mahayana Tantric
Aurangabad Caves 6–7 — Nagthar Hill North Cluster in Maharashtra, India is a Vakataka–Kalachuri (450–600 CE) rock_cut attributed to Buddhist Mahayana Tantric.
🇮🇳 India · Rock-cut
Satavahana (200 BCE–200 CE) · Buddhist Hinayana
Bhaja Caves — Karla Adjacent Hinayana Monastery in Maharashtra, India is a Satavahana (200 BCE–200 CE) rock_cut attributed to Buddhist Hinayana.
🇯🇴 Jordan · Temple complex
Nabataean (7 BCE–250 CE) · Nabataean
Khirbet et-Tannur — Mountain Shrine in Tafilah Governorate, Edom Mountains, Jordan is a Nabataean (7 BCE–250 CE) temple complex attributed to Nabataean culture.
🇮🇳 India · Rock-cut
Satavahana (100 BCE–300 CE) · Buddhist; now Hindu Ganesh shrine
Lenyadri (Ganesh Lena) — Junnar Caves 5–8 in Maharashtra, India is a Satavahana (100 BCE–300 CE) rock_cut attributed to Buddhist; now Hindu Ganesh shrine.
