Excavation

Noun

1. The act of excavating, or of making hollow, by cutting, scooping, or digging out a part of a solid mass.
2. Especially, the trade of digging engineered holes for building foundations, roadbed preparations, and similar purposes.
3. A cavity formed by cutting, digging, or scooping.
4. An uncovered cutting in the earth, in distinction from a covered cutting or tunnel.
5. The material dug out in making a channel or cavity.