excavation
An excavation is an action of carefully uncovering and exploring something that's hidden underground or inside a building. You might imagine archaeologists digging up ancient ruins.
When people talk about excavations, they usually mean large-scale projects to discover new information or artifacts from the past. Imagine a team of experts using shovels, brushes, and specialized equipment to dig through layers of soil or debris in search of lost cities, treasures, or historical sites. They might be searching for clues to help us understand how ancient civilizations lived or why certain events occurred. Excavations can also happen on construction sites where old buildings are being torn down – then what's found inside the walls is interesting and worth studying too.
How common is "excavation"?
It appears most frequently in academic texts and less often in other writings.
noun
(uncountable) The act of excavating, or of making hollow, by cutting, scooping, or digging out a part of a solid mass.
Example: Near-synonyms: hollowing out, hollowing
Real examples of "excavation" in context
