The Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela
<p>The rock-hewn churches at Lalibela were built using subtractive procedures, which create space by removing material. Out of the 11 churches, four are free-standing (monolithic), while seven share a wall with the mountain from which they were carved. The churches are all unique, contributing to the site’s architectural uniqueness, as evidenced by the human figures in bas-reliefs inside Bet Golgotha and the colourful murals of geometrical designs and biblical events in Bet Mariam. Many churches use mouldings and string courses to split big structural features into smaller parts. The churches are believed to have been built in three phases. All 11 churches were built using basic tools such as hammers and chisels to excavate trenches around the monolithic and semi-monolithic structures, as well as a system of tunnels made of…</p>
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