The archaeology team is carefully excavating the ancient tomb.
Tips
usage
开挖 emphasizes the start or undertaking of digging — typical for construction, mining, archaeology, and tunnel work. Compare 挖掘 (wājué, to excavate, more general) and 挖 (wā, to dig, simpler/more conversational).
memory
开 'to start/open' + 挖 'to dig' — literally 'open-dig', i.e. to break ground. The 开 prefix turns many verbs into 'starting' verbs: 开工 (start work), 开拍 (start filming), 开课 (start a course).
