List of colossal sculpture in situ
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This is a list of colossal sculptures that were carved in situ or in place, sometimes referred to as "living rock". This list includes two colossal stones that were intended to be moved; however they were never broken free of the quarry in which they were carved and therefore they would be considered carved in situ. Most of these were carved in ancient times. In many cases, little or no written record has survived that could shed light on how they were carved without the aid of modern technology.
In most cases, especially in India, where there is the largest volume of cave temples and sculptures these were carved out of softer rock like basalt or volcanic tuff. However in some cases they were carved out of harder rock like sandstone or even granite in the case of the unfinished obelisk. The Egyptians may have been limited to using 10 pound dolerite balls to chip away at the granite.[1] Dynamite was instrumental in the carving of Mount Rushmore, another of the few colossal sculptures that was carved out of granite.
Afghanistan
- Buddhas of Bamyan carved out of sandstone, destroyed in 2001 by the Taliban
Bangladesh
China
Egypt
- Great Sphinx of Giza carved out of limestone
- Abu Simbel carved out of sandstone
- The unfinished obelisk at Aswan carved out of granite
- Seti I carved out of limestone
Ethiopia
- Ethiopian architecture carved out of red volcanic tuff
- Church of St. George, Lalibela carved out of volcanic tuff
India
- Gwalior
- Ajanta Caves
- Ellora Caves
- Kailash Temple
- Kanheri Caves
- Badami Cave Temples carved out of soft sandstone
- List of India cave temples
- Vijayanagara
- Mahabalipuram partly carved out of granite
Iran
Jordan
- Petra carved out of sandstone
Lebanon
Malta
Peru
- Chachapoya cliff tombs at Revash [2]
Romania
Saudi Arabia
Sri Lanka
- Sigiriya carved out of limestone
Turkey
United States
- Mount Rushmore carved out of granite
- Crazy Horse Memorial work in progress
- Stone Mountain carved out of granite
[edit] Other lists
- List of India cave temples
- List of statues by height
- List of statues
- List of tallest statues in the United States
- List of Roman domes
- List of world's largest domes
- New Seven Wonders of the World
- List of archaeological sites sorted by country
- List of megalithic sites
- List of archaeoastronomical sites sorted by country
- List of Egyptian pyramids
- List of Mesoamerican pyramids
- Lists of wars
