発掘調査

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 発掘調査(はっくつちょうさ) means excavating and examining buried archaeological remains or artifacts.
• Basic usage: It is used for a site investigation before construction or the transfer of pottery found during a dig.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Discovery compared with the investigation
  • 発見(はっけん) refers to discovering something not previously found. 発掘調査 is the process of excavation and investigation.