excavation-n; 4 Senses

Sense Number 1: the act of exposing an underlying structure by digging

Commentary: EXCAVATION[+activity][+physical][+digging][+exposure][+structure]

Examples:
Careful excavation of the dinosaur bones is required to avoid damaging them.
The excavation of this newly discovered Greek temple will take many years.

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 1

Sense Number 2: an archeological or paleontological site

Commentary: EXCAVATION[+location][+area][+removed_earth][+manmade][+field][+exposed][+remains]

Examples:
We visited an archeological excavation in southern Mexico.
These early partial excavations date back to the 18th century.

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 2

Sense Number 3: a large hole in the ground

Commentary: EXCAVATION[+location][+area][+removed_earth][+manmade][+pit][+large]

Examples:
The excavation for the new skyscraper extends hundreds of feet into the ground.

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 3

Sense Number 4: activity of extracting ore or other matter from the ground

Commentary: EXCAVATION[+activity][+physical][+digging][+extraction][+substance]

Examples:
New techniques of coal excavation are more environmentally sound than earlier ones.
The excavation of the new building complex has not yet begun.

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 4