<P> The caves are carved out of flood basalt rock of a cliff , part of the Deccan Traps formed by successive volcanic eruptions at the end of the Cretaceous geological period . The rock is layered horizontally , and somewhat variable in quality . This variation within the rock layers required the artists to amend their carving methods and plans in places . The inhomogeneity in the rock have also led to cracks and collapses in the centuries that followed , as with the lost portico to cave 1 . Excavation began by cutting a narrow tunnel at roof level , which was expanded downwards and outwards ; as evidenced by some of the incomplete caves such as the partially - built vihara caves 21 through 24 and the abandoned incomplete cave 28 . </P>
<P> The caves are carved out of flood basalt rock of a cliff , part of the Deccan Traps formed by successive volcanic eruptions at the end of the Cretaceous geological period . The rock is layered horizontally , and somewhat variable in quality . This variation within the rock layers required the artists to amend their carving methods and plans in places . The inhomogeneity in the rock have also led to cracks and collapses in the centuries that followed , as with the lost portico to cave 1 . Excavation began by cutting a narrow tunnel at roof level , which was expanded downwards and outwards ; as evidenced by some of the incomplete caves such as the partially - built vihara caves 21 through 24 and the abandoned incomplete cave 28 . </P>
ajanta caves is made up of which rock
ajanta caves is made up of which rock
flood basalt rock
flood basalt rock