excavation

[eks-kuh-vey-shuhn]

noun

1. a hole or cavity made by excavating.

2. the act of excavating.

3. an area in which excavating has been done or is in progress, as an archaeological site.

Other Word Forms

• excavational adjective
• nonexcavation noun
• reexcavation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of excavation¹

First recorded in 1605–15; from Latin excavātiōn- (stem of excavātiō ) “a hollowing.” See excavate, -ion

Synonym Study

See hole.

Example Sentences

Mr Rubio described the excavation as "perhaps one of the most important archaeological sites on the planet", saying it had deep meaning to people in the United States.

From BBC

One of their earliest connections was a shared interest in Freud and Jung, giving Ballesteros the sense the film would always be as much a psychological excavation as a chronicle.

From Los Angeles Times

The University of Glasgow team will work with volunteers and students to undertake excavation and survey work at the former Kelvin Wheelies park in Kelvingrove Park.

From BBC

In the “digging” she stitches together the physical work of excavation, the ‘60s and ‘70s colloquial meaning of “dig” as to “understand” and, lastly, its nod to DJ/crate-digging culture that remixes and reimagines.

From Los Angeles Times

An international student discovered a piece of 9th century gold just 90 minutes into her first archaeological excavation.

From BBC

Related Words

• dig 
• mining 
• removal