 The Elephanta caves are " of unknown date and attribution " . Art historians have dated the caves in the range of late 5th to late 8th century AD . Archaeological excavations have unearthed a few Kshatrapa coins dated to 4th century AD . The known history is traced only to the defeat of Mauryan rulers of Konkan by the Badami Chalukyas emperor Pulakesi II ( 609 – 642 ) in a naval battle , in 635 AD . Elephanta was then called Puri or Purika , and served as the capital of the Konkan Mauryas . Some historians attribute the caves to the Konkan Mauryas , dating them to the mid @-@ 6th century , though others refute this claim saying a relatively small kingdom like the Konkan Mauryas could not undertake " an almost superhuman excavation effort , " which was needed to carve the rock temples from solid rock and could not have the skilled labor to produce such " high quality " sculpture . 
 The Elephanta caves are " of unknown date and attribution " . Art historians <a href='been_done' title='1'><mark>have</mark></a> dated the caves in the range of late 5th to late 8th century AD . Archaeological excavations <a href='been_done' title='2'><mark>have</mark></a> unearthed a few Kshatrapa coins dated to 4th century AD . The known history is traced only to the defeat of Mauryan rulers of Konkan by the Badami Chalukyas emperor Pulakesi II ( 609 – 642 ) in a naval battle , in 635 AD . Elephanta was then called Puri or Purika , and served as the capital of the Konkan Mauryas . Some historians attribute the caves to the Konkan Mauryas , dating them to the mid @-@ 6th century , though others refute this claim saying a relatively small kingdom like the Konkan Mauryas could not undertake " <a href='None' title='3'><mark>an</mark></a>almost superhuman excavation <a href='negative_concord' title='4'><mark>effort</mark></a> , " which was needed to carve the rock temples from solid rock and could not have the skilled labor to produce such " high quality " sculpture . 
Da Elephanta caves are " of unknown date and attribution " . Art historians done dated tdacaves in the range of late 5th to late 8th century AD . Archaeological excavations done unearthed a few Kshatrapa coins dated to 4th century AD . Thdanown history is traced only to the defeat of Mauryan rulers of Konkan by the Badami Chalukyas emperor Pulakesi II ( 609 – 642 ) in a naval battle , in 635 AD . Elephanta was then called Puri or Purika , and served as the capital of the Konkan Mauryas . Some historians attribute the caves to the Konkan Mauryas , dating them to thedad @-@ 6th century , doe others refute this claim saying a relatively small kingdom like the Konkan Mauryas could not undertake " almost superhuman excavation no effort , " which was needed to carve the rock temples from solid rock and could not have the dalled labor to produce such " high quality " sculpture .