noun

the action of excavating something, especially an archaeological site.

the methods of excavation have to be extremely rigorous

unearthing,digging up,uncovering,revealing,disinterment,exhumation,digging,digging out,hollowing out,scooping out,gouging,boring,channelling,sinking,quarrying,mining,hole,hollow,cavity,pit,crater,cutting,trench,trough,archaeological site