Rock-cut architecture
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| + | '''Rock-cut architecture''' is the creation of structures like buildings by excavating solid [[Rock (geology)|rock]] where it naturally occurs. In India the term 'cave' is often applied, and in China 'cavern,' but one must differentiate natural caves, even if tidied and extended by man, from rock-cut architecture which is wholly man-made and so in every respect a part of architecture and its history. Though rock-cut architecture differs from traditional architecture in many obvious ways, many rock-cut structures are often made to replicate traditional architectural forms in the facades and even in their interiors. The interiors were usually carved out by starting at the roof of the planned space and then working downward, for the obvious reason that stones would not be falling on one's head. The three main uses of rock-cut architecture were [[temples]] (like those in [[Indian rock-cut architecture|India]]), [[tombs]] (like those in [[Petra]], [[Jordan]]) and cave dwellings (like those in [[Cappadocia]], [[Turkey]]). | ||
| - | '''Subterranea''' refers to underground structures, both natural (such as [[cave]]s) and man-made (such as [[Mining|mine]]s). Some subterranea include: | + | Some rock-cut architecture, mostly for [[Rock-cut tombs|tombs]], is excavated entirely in chambers under the surface of relatively level rock. If the excavation is instead made into the side of a cliff or steep slope there can be an impressive facade, as found in [[Lycia|Lycian]] tombs, Petra, [[Ajanta Caves|Ajanta]] and elsewhere. The most laborious and impressive rock-cut architecture is the excavation of tall free-standing monolithic structures entirely below the surface level of the surrounding rock, in a large excavated hole around the structure. [[Ellora Caves|Ellora]] in India and [[Monolithic church#Lalibela|Lalibela]] in [[Ethiopia]] provide the most spectacular and famous examples of such structures. |
| - | * [[Bunker]] | + | |
| - | * [[Burial vault (tomb)]] | + | |
| - | * [[Casemate]] | + | |
| - | * [[Catacomb]]s | + | |
| - | * [[Cave]]s | + | |
| - | ** [[Ice cave]]s | + | |
| - | * [[Cave dwelling]]s, [[Cave house]] | + | |
| - | * Cave temple | + | |
| - | * [[Basement|Cellar]] | + | |
| - | * [[Cenote]] | + | |
| - | * [[Dungeon]] | + | |
| - | * [[Dugout (shelter)]] | + | |
| - | * [[Karst]] | + | |
| - | * [[Long gallery|Gallery]] | + | |
| - | * [[Lava tube]]s | + | |
| - | * [[Lunar lava tube]] | + | |
| - | * [[Rock cut architecture]], [[rock grave]] | + | |
| - | * [[Smuggling tunnel]] | + | |
| - | * [[Subterranean river]]s | + | |
| - | * [[Tunnel]]s (street tunnel, train tunnels) | + | |
| - | * [[Underground city]] | + | |
| - | * [[Underground lake]]s | + | |
| - | * [[Underground rapid transit system]]s | + | |
| - | * [[Volcanic pipe]]s | + | |
| - | * [[Wine cave]]s | + | |
| - | == See also == | + | Rock-cut architecture, though intensely laborious with ancient tools and methods, was presumably combined with quarrying the rock for use elsewhere; the huge amounts of stone removed have normally vanished from the site. Rock-cut architecture is also said to be cut, hewn, etc., "from the living rock". Another term sometimes associated with rock-cut architecture is [[monolithic architecture]], which is rather applied to free-standing structures made of a single piece of material. Monolithic architecture is often rock-cut architecture (e.g. [[Ellora Kailasanathar Temple]]) but monolithic structures might be also cast of artificial material, e.g. [[concrete]]. |
| - | * [[Subterranean London]] | + | |
| - | * [[Seattle Underground]] | + | |
| + | |||
| + | ==See also== | ||
| + | *[[Monolithic church]] and [[monolithic architecture]] | ||
| + | *[[Dugout (shelter)]] | ||
| + | *[[Yaodong]] | ||
| + | *[[Cave monastery]] | ||
| + | *[[Ostrog monastery]] | ||
| + | *[[Lalibela]] | ||
| + | *[[Petra]] | ||
| + | *[[Thamud]] | ||
| + | *[[List of archaeological sites sorted by country]] | ||
| + | *[[List of colossal sculpture in situ]] | ||
| + | *[[List of megalithic sites]] | ||
| + | *[[Indian rock-cut architecture]] | ||
| + | *[[Rock-cut tombs]] | ||
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Rock-cut architecture is the creation of structures like buildings by excavating solid rock where it naturally occurs. In India the term 'cave' is often applied, and in China 'cavern,' but one must differentiate natural caves, even if tidied and extended by man, from rock-cut architecture which is wholly man-made and so in every respect a part of architecture and its history. Though rock-cut architecture differs from traditional architecture in many obvious ways, many rock-cut structures are often made to replicate traditional architectural forms in the facades and even in their interiors. The interiors were usually carved out by starting at the roof of the planned space and then working downward, for the obvious reason that stones would not be falling on one's head. The three main uses of rock-cut architecture were temples (like those in India), tombs (like those in Petra, Jordan) and cave dwellings (like those in Cappadocia, Turkey).
Some rock-cut architecture, mostly for tombs, is excavated entirely in chambers under the surface of relatively level rock. If the excavation is instead made into the side of a cliff or steep slope there can be an impressive facade, as found in Lycian tombs, Petra, Ajanta and elsewhere. The most laborious and impressive rock-cut architecture is the excavation of tall free-standing monolithic structures entirely below the surface level of the surrounding rock, in a large excavated hole around the structure. Ellora in India and Lalibela in Ethiopia provide the most spectacular and famous examples of such structures.
Rock-cut architecture, though intensely laborious with ancient tools and methods, was presumably combined with quarrying the rock for use elsewhere; the huge amounts of stone removed have normally vanished from the site. Rock-cut architecture is also said to be cut, hewn, etc., "from the living rock". Another term sometimes associated with rock-cut architecture is monolithic architecture, which is rather applied to free-standing structures made of a single piece of material. Monolithic architecture is often rock-cut architecture (e.g. Ellora Kailasanathar Temple) but monolithic structures might be also cast of artificial material, e.g. concrete.
See also
- Monolithic church and monolithic architecture
- Dugout (shelter)
- Yaodong
- Cave monastery
- Ostrog monastery
- Lalibela
- Petra
- Thamud
- List of archaeological sites sorted by country
- List of colossal sculpture in situ
- List of megalithic sites
- Indian rock-cut architecture
- Rock-cut tombs
