/ˌekskəˈveɪʃn/
ex·cav·ation
BrE /ˌekskəˈveɪʃn/
NAmE /ˌekskəˈveɪʃn/
[C, U]
the activity of digging in the ground to look for old buildings or objects that have been buried for a long time
[C, usually pl.]
a place where people are digging to look for old buildings or objects
The excavations are open to the public.
[U]
the act of digging, especially with a machine