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CategoriesRock-cut sites
Temples, tombs and churches carved directly from living rock.
🇹🇷 Turkey · Rock-cut
Lycian (5th–4th c. BCE) then Roman · Lycian (Xanthian) Greek
Myra Rock-Tombs Northern Necropolis — Demre Extension in Antalya Province, Turkey is a Lycian (5th–4th c. BCE) then Roman rock_cut attributed to Lycian (Xanthian) Greek.
🇮🇳 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.
🇹🇷 Turkey · Rock-cut
Lycian–Roman (500 BCE–200 CE) · Lycian (Tlos was Lycia capital)
Tlos — Rock Tombs Eastern Extension in Muğla Province, Turkey is a Lycian–Roman (500 BCE–200 CE) rock_cut attributed to Lycian (Tlos was Lycia capital).
🇮🇳 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.
🇮🇳 India · Rock-cut
Kalachuri (520–550 CE) · Shaivite Hindu
Jogeshwari Caves — Mumbai Cave Temple in Maharashtra, India is a Kalachuri (520–550 CE) rock_cut attributed to Shaivite Hindu.
🇮🇳 India · Rock-cut
Gupta (380–415 CE Chandragupta II) · Gupta Hindu (Vishnu)
Udayagiri Caves 5–6 — Vidisha Vishnu Complex in Madhya Pradesh, India is a Gupta (380–415 CE Chandragupta II) rock_cut attributed to Gupta Hindu (Vishnu).
🇮🇳 India · Rock-cut
Early Chalukya, 6th–7th century CE · Hindu and Jain under Early Chalukya dynasty
Four 6th-c. Chalukya sandstone cave temples at Vatapi with Nataraja and Vishnu iconography.
🇮🇳 India · Rock-cut
Kalachuri–Rashtrakuta (550–600 CE) · Shaivite Hindu
Elephanta — North Bay Small Shrine Cave in Maharashtra, India is a Kalachuri–Rashtrakuta (550–600 CE) rock_cut attributed to Shaivite Hindu.
🇮🇳 India · Rock-cut
Gupta–Kalachuri (530 CE) · Shaivite Hindu (Brahmanical)
Mandapeshwar Cave — Borivali in Maharashtra, India is a Gupta–Kalachuri (530 CE) rock_cut attributed to Shaivite Hindu (Brahmanical).
🇮🇳 India · Rock-cut
Mauryan to Gupta (200 BCE–500 CE) · Jain (Kharavela)
Ranigumpha — Khandagiri Rear Cave Cluster in Odisha, India is a Mauryan to Gupta (200 BCE–500 CE) rock_cut attributed to Jain (Kharavela).
🇮🇳 India · Rock-cut
Gupta to Vakataka (380–600 CE) · Buddhist Mahayana
Bagh Caves — Mahishmati Buddhist Vihara in Madhya Pradesh, India is a Gupta to Vakataka (380–600 CE) rock_cut attributed to Buddhist Mahayana. 9 Buddhist rock-cut viharas with 4th c.
🇮🇳 India · Rock-cut
Satavahana (100 BCE) · Buddhist Hinayana
Kondane Caves — Karjat Monastery in Maharashtra, India is a Satavahana (100 BCE) rock_cut attributed to Buddhist Hinayana.
🇮🇳 India · Rock-cut
Satavahana (100 BCE–200 CE) · Buddhist
Manmodi Hill Caves — Junnar in Maharashtra, India is a Satavahana (100 BCE–200 CE) rock_cut attributed to Buddhist. 40 Buddhist caves on Manmodi hill opposite Shivneri with chaityas and viharas.
🇹🇷 Turkey · Rock-cut
Lycian (500 BCE–200 CE) · Lycian
Gagai — Lycia Coastal Necropolis Annex in Antalya Province, Turkey is a Lycian (500 BCE–200 CE) rock_cut attributed to Lycian.
🇹🇷 Turkey · Rock-cut
Lycian (500 BCE–200 CE) · Lycian
Kyaneai — Theatre Hill Outer Necropolis in Antalya Province, Turkey is a Lycian (500 BCE–200 CE) rock_cut attributed to Lycian. Outer sarcophagi field beyond theatre of Kyaneai with 100+ sarcophagi.
🇪🇬 Egypt · Rock-cut
Late Period to Roman (600 BCE–300 CE) · Egyptian / Greco-Roman
Hermopolis necropolis with 1-million ibis catacombs and Petosiris fusion tomb.
🇪🇹 Ethiopia · Rock-cut
Aksumite (400 BCE–800 CE) · Aksumite
Seglamen — Rock Church and Stelae in Tigray Region, Ethiopia is a Aksumite (400 BCE–800 CE) rock_cut attributed to Aksumite.
🇮🇹 Italy · Rock-cut
Iron Age (1000–700 BCE) · Sikel
Cassibile Rock-Cut Necropolis in Sicily, Italy is a Iron Age (1000–700 BCE) rock_cut attributed to Sikel. 180+ chamber tombs along Cassibile river gorge cliffs.
🇹🇷 Turkey · Rock-cut
Commagene (80–50 BCE Antiochus I) · Commagene Greek-Persian syncretism
Arsameia excavated by Dörner & Young 1935–64, inscription records founding by Arsames c.230 BCE and Antiochus reshaping.
🇯🇴 Jordan · Rock-cut
Nabataean (1st c. BCE–1st c. CE; Treasury c.56 BCE Aretas IV) · Nabataean
Siq-end Treasury excavated by Horsfield 1929 and recent, empty tombs, annex row with loculi and triclinia.
