House Type - Cliff Dwelling

House Type - Cliff Dwelling

Cliff dwelling is the general archaeological term for dwellings formed by using niches or caves in high cliffs, with more or less excavation or with additions in the way of masonry.

Two special sorts of cliff-dwelling are distinguished by archaeologists;

1. the cliff-house, which is actually built on levels in the cliff, and

2.the cavate, which is dug out, by using natural recesses or openings. 

Rock-cut architecture generally refers to rather grander temples, but also tombs, cut into living rock, although for example the Ajanta Caves in India, of the 2nd century BCE to 5th century CE, probably housed several hundred Buddhist monks, and are cut into a cliff, as are the Mogao Caves in China.

SOURCE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cliff_dwelling

See Also Dacha House Type