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CategoriesRock-cut sites
Temples, tombs and churches carved directly from living rock.
🇮🇳 India · Temple complex
Kalinga (Maha-Meghavahana) early historic · Jain (Digambara) / Royal Kalinga
Earliest Jain monastic caves in eastern India (2nd c. BCE–2nd c. CE) on twin sandstone hills near Bhubaneswar — 33 caves on Udayagiri and Khandagiri — excavated under Kalinga king Kharavela (c.40…
🇹🇷 Turkey · Rock-cut
Bronze to Iron Age (2000 BCE–300 CE) · Rock-cut tradition
Sumatar Harabesi — Cave Sanctuary Niche 3 in Şanlıurfa, Sumatar, Turkey is a Bronze to Iron Age (2000 BCE–300 CE) rock_cut attributed to Rock-cut tradition…
🇮🇳 India · Rock-cut
Bronze to Iron Age (2000 BCE–300 CE) · Rock-cut tradition
Badami — Cave 3 North Veranda Murals in Karnataka, Bagalkot, Badami, India is a Bronze to Iron Age (2000 BCE–300 CE) rock_cut attributed to Rock-cut tradit…
🇮🇳 India · Rock-cut
Bronze to Iron Age (2000 BCE–300 CE) · Rock-cut tradition
Ellora — Kailasa Shrine Ancillary Gaja Panel in Maharashtra, Aurangabad, Ellora, India is a Bronze to Iron Age (2000 BCE–300 CE) rock_cut attributed to Roc…
🇯🇴 Jordan · Rock-cut
Bronze to Iron Age (2000 BCE–300 CE) · Rock-cut tradition
Little Petra (Siq al-Barid) — Painted Biclinium in Ma'an, Siq al-Barid, Jordan is a Bronze to Iron Age (2000 BCE–300 CE) rock_cut attributed to Rock-cut tr…
🇨🇳 China · Rock-cut
Western Jin to Yuan (300 – 1300 CE) · Buddhist Hexi nomad to Tang imperial
Lower cliffs with 420 CE earliest inscribed cave 169 of 169 caves at Liujia Reservoir.
🇮🇹 Italy · Rock-cut
Bronze to Iron Age (2000 BCE–300 CE) · Rock-cut tradition
Pantalica — Anaktoron Terrace Necropolis Sector E in Sicily, Syracuse, Sortino, Italy is a Bronze to Iron Age (2000 BCE–300 CE) rock_cut attributed to Rock…
🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan · Rock-cut
Bronze to Iron Age (2000 BCE–300 CE) · Rock-cut tradition
Osh — Sulaiman-Too Cave Sanctuary Niche in Osh, Sulaiman-Too, Kyrgyzstan is a Bronze to Iron Age (2000 BCE–300 CE) rock_cut attributed to Rock-cut traditio…
🇪🇬 Egypt · Rock-cut
Bronze to Iron Age (2000 BCE–300 CE) · Rock-cut tradition
Deir el-Bersha — Nomarch Tomb Niche (Minya) in Minya, Deir el-Bersha, Egypt is a Bronze to Iron Age (2000 BCE–300 CE) rock_cut attributed to Rock-cut tradi…
🇮🇹 Italy · Rock-cut
Early Bronze Age (3300–2100 BCE) · Early Bronze Age
Rock-Cut Tombs of Butte Easton Tall in Sicily, Italy is a Early Bronze Age (3300–2100 BCE) rock_cut attributed to Early Bronze Age culture.
🇮🇳 India · Rock-cut
Bronze to Iron Age (2000 BCE–300 CE) · Rock-cut tradition
Ajanta — Cave 17 Veranda Niche Painting in Maharashtra, Aurangabad, Ajanta, India is a Bronze to Iron Age (2000 BCE–300 CE) rock_cut attributed to Rock-cut…
🇨🇳 China · Rock-cut
Bronze to Iron Age (2000 BCE–300 CE) · Rock-cut tradition
Longmen — Binyang Central Cave North Wall in Henan, Luoyang, Longmen, China is a Bronze to Iron Age (2000 BCE–300 CE) rock_cut attributed to Rock-cut tradi…
🇹🇭 Thailand · Rock-cut
Ancestral Pueblo (900–1350 CE) · Ancestral Pueblo
Chashma Dara Rock-Cut Complex in Buriram Province, Thailand is a Ancestral Pueblo (900–1350 CE) rock_cut attributed to Ancestral Pueblo culture.
🇦🇺 Australia · Rock-cut
Late Bronze Age (1550–1050 BCE) · Late Bronze Age
Butte-Upper Rock-Cut Complex in New South Wales, Australia is a Late Bronze Age (1550–1050 BCE) rock_cut attributed to Late Bronze Age culture.
🇸🇾 Syria · Rock-cut
Bronze to Iron Age (2000 BCE–300 CE) · Rock-cut tradition
Emesa — South Rock-Cut Tomb Niche (Homs) in Homs, Homs Old City, Emesa, Syria is a Bronze to Iron Age (2000 BCE–300 CE) rock_cut attributed to Rock-cut tra…
🇨🇳 China · Rock-cut
Later Qin to Song (384 – 1279 CE) · Buddhist Hexi to Central Plains transition at Wei River gap
East face stacked 90 caves 142 m hill with 16 m Buddha and plankway tiers.
🇲🇦 Morocco · Rock-cut
Andean Formative (1800–200 BCE) · Andean Formative
Mere-Inis Rock-Cut Complex in Souss-Massa, Morocco is a Andean Formative (1800–200 BCE) rock_cut attributed to Andean Formative culture.
🇹🇷 Turkey · Rock-cut
Nazca (100 BCE–800 CE) · Nazca
Rock-Cut Tombs of Bryn Thornby in Central Anatolia, Turkey is a Nazca (100 BCE–800 CE) rock_cut attributed to Nazca culture.
🇮🇹 Italy · Rock-cut
Iron Age (1200 BCE–500 CE) · Iron Age
Rock-Cut Tombs of Syke-Strath in Sicily, Italy is a Iron Age (1200 BCE–500 CE) rock_cut attributed to Iron Age culture.
🇹🇷 Turkey · Rock-cut
Bronze to Iron Age (2000 BCE–300 CE) · Rock-cut tradition
Myra — Rock Tombs South Cliff Niche (Demre) in Antalya, Demre, Myra, Turkey is a Bronze to Iron Age (2000 BCE–300 CE) rock_cut attributed to Rock-cut tradi…
🇮🇳 India · Temple complex
Satavahana to Rashtrakuta 100 BCE–950 CE · Buddhist Hinayana → Mahayana → Vajrayana
Largest Buddhist cave-university in western India with 109 basalt caves spanning 1st c. BCE–10th c.
🇮🇷 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.
🇮🇷 Iran · Rock art
Elamite to Parthian (c.1000 BCE–200 CE; peak Neo-Elamite 800–600 BCE) · Neo-Elamite → Parthian ( Elymais )
Kul-e Farah is a gorge with 6 Elamite rock reliefs (Kul-e Farah I–VI, c.800–600 BCE) — massive 5-m panels of king Hanni, processions (200+ figures), musicians a...
