excavation
/ˌɛkskəˈveɪʃn/ noun C1- The act of excavating, or of making hollow, by cutting, scooping, or digging out a part of a solid mass. · Near-synonyms: hollowing out, hollowing
- Especially, the trade of digging engineered holes for building foundations, roadbed preparations, and similar purposes.
- A cavity formed by cutting, digging, or scooping.
- An uncovered cutting in the earth, in distinction from a covered cutting or tunnel.
- The material dug out in making a channel or cavity.
- Archaeological research that unearths buildings, tombs and objects of historical value.
- A site where an archaeological exploration is being carried out.
- Something uncovered by archaeological excavation.
Plural excavations
From the library
In this passage he proposed to drive a level as they do in mines; this level would bring the two prisoners immediately beneath the gallery where the sentry kept watch; once there, a large excavation would be made, and one of the flag-stones with which the gallery was paved be so completely loosened that at the desired moment it would give way beneath the feet of the soldier, who, stunned by his fall, would be immediately bound and gagged by Dantès before he had power to offer any resistance.
At the end of fifteen months the level was finished, and the excavation completed beneath the gallery, and the two workmen could distinctly hear the measured tread of the sentinel as he paced to and fro over their heads.
But as I cannot, and you will not, quit this place, it becomes necessary to fill up the excavation beneath the soldier’s gallery; he might, by chance, hear the hollow sound of his footsteps, and call the attention of his officer to the circumstance.
On the left, in a sort of valley, he perceived a circular excavation.
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