excavating

/EH1 K S K AH0 V EY0 T IH0 NG/
verb
  1. 1

    To make a hole in (something); to hollow.

  2. 2

    To remove part of (something) by scooping or digging it out.

  3. 3

    To uncover (something) by digging.

Source: https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/excavate, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/excavating