Sometimes the easier way is the better way

The theatre.

All of those rows of seats were carved out of the hillside. They may have wanted to feel closer to Dushara by sitting on stone that was still connected to the mountain, but using pre-cut blocks would have been a lot less effort and might have held up better besides. (Also maybe not using sandstone.)

The Roman amphitheater in Amman is almost as old as this but is much better preserved.