1610s, "action of excavating," from Latin excavationem (nominative excavatio) "a hollowing out," noun of action from past-participle stem of excavare "to hollow out" (see excavate). Meaning "an excavated place" is from 1779.
there's an interesting excavation going on near Princeton
exarch
exasperate
exasperation
Excalibur
excavate
excavation
exceed
excel
excellence
excellency
excellent