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excavation

excavation

9 5.4
A hole in the ground made by digging, often for building or finding old things
  • noun
  • /ˌɛkskəˈveɪʃən/
translation icon : excavación
  • Doctor Barakat is now in charge of the excavation.
  • archaeological excavation
  • excavation site
  • recent excavations

Examples

  • At the edge of the excavation, they found the remains of a wall.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • Even from within an excavation in northern Kenya, we can talk to people about what we're doing.

  • After 21 hours of excavation, three adult bodies were uncovered.

  • The site where Lou Goettsch's remains might be buried is currently under excavation for a commercial development.

    Academic text (1995)
  • Then, using computer models of the excavation site showing which bones were found where, Grossschmidt identified 68 individuals.

    Academic text (2008)
  • There have been no archaeological excavations to prove or disprove this theory.

    Academic text (2001)
  • Since then, looting has also taken place at the site of the archaeological excavations themselves.

    Academic text (2000)
  • The remediation of the Baton Rouge site involved the excavation of more than 10,000 cubic yards of contaminated sludge.

    Academic text (1995)
  • The team discovered ancient artifacts during the excavation of the Roman site.

  • The excavation revealed a large underground chamber filled with pottery.

Synonyms

pit
vsexcavation
230 3.6

A large hole in the ground used for mining

is the general dug cavity term not limited to large operations
mine
vsexcavation
178 5.7

A hole in the ground where people dig for minerals like coal or gold

is broader, meaning any hole formed by digging regardless of purpose
dig
vsexcavation
60 3.9

A place where people remove earth to find old objects

is broader, covering any dug hole for archaeology or construction
quarry
vsexcavation
55 4.9

An open place in the ground where people remove stone

is the general name for a dug hole used for many tasks
cavity
vsexcavation
15 3.9

A hollow space in the ground or a solid object

is an intentionally made hole created by people for work or study
archeological site
vsexcavation
  • Specialized
10 3.7

A place where people dig to find objects from past human life

is the specific physical hole often created during that study
excavation site
vsexcavation
1 3.7

A place where people dig to find old objects like bones and tools

is the main term for any hole made by removing earth for building
digs
vsexcavation
  • Specialized
8.1

A place where people dig to find old objects or valuable stones

is more general, applying to any intentionally made hole in the ground
diggings
vsexcavation
  • Archaic
8.4

An area where people dig for minerals or ancient objects

is the overall term for a dug cavity used in many projects
stone pit
vsexcavation
4.9

A large open hole in the ground where people take stone for building

is wider in use, applying to holes for many different reasons
chalk pit
vsexcavation
  • UK
6.8

A large hole in the ground where people dig out chalk

is the general dug hollow term that can include this use
pithole
vsexcavation
9.8

A hole that forms when wood decays or people dig the ground

is the deliberate hole made by workers for construction or research

Compounds

A place where people dig to find old objects like bones and tools

How Deep

quarry
55 4.9
pit
230 3.6
excavation
9 5.4
hole
1.0
hollow
14 3.8

Surface Forms

excavation singular
excavations plural

Morphology

excavation = excavate (transparent) = excavate + ion

The noun meaning 'a hole or site created by digging' is a common result nominalization from the verb and is easily inferred from 'excavate' + '-ion'.

Etymology

Excavation comes from Latin parts ex- ('out') and cavare ('to hollow') and is like the English word cave, which is a hollow space. So an excavation is the hole or hollow made by digging, like a man-made cave.