Excavation - Revision history

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	~~<div class="pi-pageimage" style="display:none">[[File:Icon-ui-pickaxe.png\|128px]]</div>~~
	'''Excavation''' is Primal Idle's fossil-digging activity, run from the Excavation panel on the [[Delving]] page. [[Expeditions]] and [[Caves\|cave delves]] occasionally turn up a biome's '''Dig Site Map'''; spending a map starts a real-time dig at that biome's site, which delivers a crate of common fossils, [[Delving]] XP, and — roughly one dig in eight to twelve — the '''skull''' of a species that lives in that biome. Skulls are the keys to the [[Museum]].		'''Excavation''' is Primal Idle's fossil-digging activity, run from the Excavation panel on the [[Delving]] page. [[Expeditions]] and [[Caves\|cave delves]] occasionally turn up a biome's '''Dig Site Map'''; spending a map starts a real-time dig at that biome's site, which delivers a crate of common fossils, [[Delving]] XP, and — roughly one dig in eight to twelve — the '''skull''' of a species that lives in that biome. Skulls are the keys to the [[Museum]].

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	<div class="pi-pageimage" style="display:none">[[File:Icon-~~fossil~~-~~bone~~.png\|128px]]</div>		<div class="pi-pageimage" style="display:none">[[File:Icon-ui-pickaxe.png\|128px]]</div>
	'''Excavation''' is Primal Idle's fossil-digging activity, run from the Excavation panel on the [[Delving]] page. [[Expeditions]] and [[Caves\|cave delves]] occasionally turn up a biome's '''Dig Site Map'''; spending a map starts a real-time dig at that biome's site, which delivers a crate of common fossils, [[Delving]] XP, and — roughly one dig in eight to twelve — the '''skull''' of a species that lives in that biome. Skulls are the keys to the [[Museum]].		'''Excavation''' is Primal Idle's fossil-digging activity, run from the Excavation panel on the [[Delving]] page. [[Expeditions]] and [[Caves\|cave delves]] occasionally turn up a biome's '''Dig Site Map'''; spending a map starts a real-time dig at that biome's site, which delivers a crate of common fossils, [[Delving]] XP, and — roughly one dig in eight to twelve — the '''skull''' of a species that lives in that biome. Skulls are the keys to the [[Museum]].

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			<div class="pi-pageimage" style="display:none">[[File:Icon-fossil-bone.png\|128px]]</div>
	'''Excavation''' is Primal Idle's fossil-digging activity, run from the Excavation panel on the [[Delving]] page. [[Expeditions]] and [[Caves\|cave delves]] occasionally turn up a biome's '''Dig Site Map'''; spending a map starts a real-time dig at that biome's site, which delivers a crate of common fossils, [[Delving]] XP, and — roughly one dig in eight to twelve — the '''skull''' of a species that lives in that biome. Skulls are the keys to the [[Museum]].		'''Excavation''' is Primal Idle's fossil-digging activity, run from the Excavation panel on the [[Delving]] page. [[Expeditions]] and [[Caves\|cave delves]] occasionally turn up a biome's '''Dig Site Map'''; spending a map starts a real-time dig at that biome's site, which delivers a crate of common fossils, [[Delving]] XP, and — roughly one dig in eight to twelve — the '''skull''' of a species that lives in that biome. Skulls are the keys to the [[Museum]].

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← Older revision		Revision as of 18:55, 19 July 2026
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	'''Excavation''' is Primal Idle's fossil-digging activity, run from the Excavation panel on the [[Delving]] page. [[Expeditions]] and [[Caves\|cave delves]] occasionally turn up a biome's '''Dig Site Map'''; spending a map starts a real-time dig at that biome's site, which delivers a crate of common fossils, [[Delving]] XP, and — ~~about~~ one dig in twelve — the '''skull''' of a species that lives in that biome. Skulls are the keys to the [[Museum]].		'''Excavation''' is Primal Idle's fossil-digging activity, run from the Excavation panel on the [[Delving]] page. [[Expeditions]] and [[Caves\|cave delves]] occasionally turn up a biome's '''Dig Site Map'''; spending a map starts a real-time dig at that biome's site, which delivers a crate of common fossils, [[Delving]] XP, and — roughly one dig in eight to twelve — the '''skull''' of a species that lives in that biome. Skulls are the keys to the [[Museum]].

	== How excavation works ==		== How excavation works ==
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	# '''Collect.''' When the dig finishes it auto-delivers straight to your bank: a crate of common fossils, Delving XP scaled to the dig's length, and a chance at a species skull.		# '''Collect.''' When the dig finishes it auto-delivers straight to your bank: a crate of common fossils, Delving XP scaled to the dig's length, and a chance at a species skull.

	'''Dig slots.''' You can run more than one dig at a time. ~~The number~~ of ~~slots grows with your~~ [[~~Delving~~]] ~~level~~, ~~starting at one and increasing as you level up (to~~ a ~~maximum~~ of ~~four)~~.		'''Dig slots.''' You can run more than one dig at a time — you start with one and unlock more at '''Delving 25, 50 and 75''' (up to four). A fifth slot comes from the '''Echo of the First Warden''' relic (the [[Caves#The Amber Door\|Amber Door]]'s unique). A finished dig can also '''auto-restart''': if you have another map of that biome banked, it re-runs on its own, so a stack of maps digs itself.

	== What you find ==		== What you find ==
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	=== Species skulls ===		=== Species skulls ===

	Every completed dig has ~~about an '''8%~~ chance~~'''~~ to surface a species skull, drawn evenly from the [[Creatures\|creatures]] that live in that biome. There are 42 skulls in all — one per species. Skulls sell for a tidy sum, but their real purpose is the [[Museum]], ~~where~~ a skull ~~plus the right common fossils assembles~~ that ~~species' skeleton~~.		Every completed dig has a chance to surface a species skull, drawn evenly from the [[Creatures\|creatures]] that live in that biome. The odds '''curve by site''', from about '''14%''' at the earliest sites down to about '''8.6%''' at the deepest (the early biomes have the biggest species pools, so they're made a little kinder). There are '''57 skulls''' in all — one per species. Skulls sell for a tidy sum, but their real purpose is the [[Museum]].

			'''No wasted digs:''' a skull-less dig instead banks a '''Field Journal page''' for that biome (a duplicate skull banks several), and the '''Curator's Desk''' trades those pages for a skull '''of your choice''' from that ground — so a bad-luck streak just becomes a guaranteed skull a little later. See [[Museum]].

	=== Delving XP ===		=== Delving XP ===
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	! Biome !! Dig site !! Duration !! Delving XP !! Skull chance		! Biome !! Dig site !! Duration !! Delving XP !! Skull chance
	\|-		\|-
	\| {{Icon\|grasslands}} Grasslands \|\| Sunken Barrow \|\| 30 min \|\| 60 \|\| ~8%		\| {{Icon\|grasslands}} Grasslands \|\| Sunken Barrow \|\| 30 min \|\| 600 \|\| 14.0%
	\|-		\|-
	\| {{Icon\|redwood-wilds}} Redwood Wilds \|\| Rootbound Boneyard \|\| 37 min \|\| 74 \|\| ~8%		\| {{Icon\|redwood-wilds}} Redwood Wilds \|\| Rootbound Boneyard \|\| 37 min \|\| 740 \|\| 13.4%
	\|-		\|-
	\| {{Icon\|murkwater-swamp}} Murkwater Swamp \|\| Peatlock Trench \|\| 43 min \|\| 86 \|\| ~8%		\| {{Icon\|murkwater-swamp}} Murkwater Swamp \|\| Peatlock Trench \|\| 43 min \|\| 860 \|\| 12.8%
	\|-		\|-
	\| {{Icon\|cavern-depths}} Cavern Depths \|\| Echoing Ossuary \|\| 50 min \|\| ~~100~~ \|\| ~8%		\| {{Icon\|cavern-depths}} Cavern Depths \|\| Echoing Ossuary \|\| 50 min \|\| 1,000 \|\| 12.2%
	\|-		\|-
	\| {{Icon\|scorched-badlands}} Scorched Badlands \|\| Scorched Wash \|\| 57 min \|\| ~~114~~ \|\| ~8%		\| {{Icon\|scorched-badlands}} Scorched Badlands \|\| Scorched Wash \|\| 57 min \|\| 1,140 \|\| 11.6%
	\|-		\|-
	\| {{Icon\|coral-shallows}} Coral Shallows \|\| Reefbed Shelf \|\| 63 min \|\| ~~126~~ \|\| ~8%		\| {{Icon\|coral-shallows}} Coral Shallows \|\| Reefbed Shelf \|\| 63 min \|\| 1,260 \|\| 11.0%
	\|-		\|-
	\| {{Icon\|frozen-wastes}} Frozen Wastes \|\| Permafrost Cut \|\| 70 min \|\| ~~140~~ \|\| ~8%		\| {{Icon\|frozen-wastes}} Frozen Wastes \|\| Permafrost Cut \|\| 70 min \|\| 1,400 \|\| 10.4%
	\|-		\|-
	\| {{Icon\|ashen-peaks}} Ashen Peaks \|\| Cinder Terraces \|\| 77 min \|\| ~~154~~ \|\| ~8%		\| {{Icon\|ashen-peaks}} Ashen Peaks \|\| Cinder Terraces \|\| 77 min \|\| 1,540 \|\| 9.8%
	\|-		\|-
	\| {{Icon\|skyreach-plateau}} Skyreach Plateau \|\| Skyfall Scree \|\| 83 min \|\| ~~166~~ \|\| ~8%		\| {{Icon\|skyreach-plateau}} Skyreach Plateau \|\| Skyfall Scree \|\| 83 min \|\| 1,660 \|\| 9.2%
	\|-		\|-
	\| the Sundered Vale \|\| The Shattered Bed \|\| 90 min \|\| ~~180~~ \|\| ~8%		\| the Sundered Vale \|\| The Shattered Bed \|\| 90 min \|\| 1,800 \|\| 8.6%
	\|}		\|}

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	* [[Museum]] — where skulls and fossils become skeletons.		* [[Museum]] — where skulls and fossils become skeletons.
	* [[Expeditions]] and [[Caves]] — where Dig Site Maps come from.		* [[Expeditions]] and [[Caves]] — where Dig Site Maps come from.

			{{Nav}}

	[[Category:Excavation]]		[[Category:Excavation]]
	[[Category:Delving]]		[[Category:Delving]]

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New page

'''Excavation''' is Primal Idle's fossil-digging activity, run from the Excavation panel on the [[Delving]] page. [[Expeditions]] and [[Caves|cave delves]] occasionally turn up a biome's '''Dig Site Map'''; spending a map starts a real-time dig at that biome's site, which delivers a crate of common fossils, [[Delving]] XP, and — about one dig in twelve — the '''skull''' of a species that lives in that biome. Skulls are the keys to the [[Museum]].

== How excavation works ==

# '''Get a Dig Site Map.''' Maps drop from that biome's [[Expeditions|patrols]] (uncommon), its [[Expeditions|Guardian]] (several times more often), and its [[Caves|cave]] delves (best rate). Each map is specific to one biome.
# '''Start a dig.''' At the Excavation panel, spend a map to begin a dig in that biome's site. The biome must be unlocked.
# '''Wait it out.''' A dig runs in real time on the game clock and continues while you are away — offline time counts in full. Durations climb up the biome ladder, from 30 minutes at the first site to 90 minutes at the last.
# '''Collect.''' When the dig finishes it auto-delivers straight to your bank: a crate of common fossils, Delving XP scaled to the dig's length, and a chance at a species skull.

'''Dig slots.''' You can run more than one dig at a time. The number of slots grows with your [[Delving]] level, starting at one and increasing as you level up (to a maximum of four).

== What you find ==

=== Common fossils ===

Every dig delivers a crate of common fossils. The crate deepens up the biome ladder: early sites give mostly bones, mid sites add ribs, vertebrae, claws and plates, and the deepest sites can turn up amber.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Fossil !! Sell value !! Notes
|-
| Fossil Bone || 20 || The staple; every dig produces several.
|-
| Fossil Rib || 35 || Common from the first sites on.
|-
| Fossil Vertebra || 55 || From the Murkwater site onward.
|-
| Fossil Claw || 80 || From the Scorched site onward.
|-
| Fossil Plate || 120 || From the Frozen site onward.
|-
| Amberized Insect || 200 || Only from the two deepest sites.
|}

=== Species skulls ===

Every completed dig has about an '''8% chance''' to surface a species skull, drawn evenly from the [[Creatures|creatures]] that live in that biome. There are 42 skulls in all — one per species. Skulls sell for a tidy sum, but their real purpose is the [[Museum]], where a skull plus the right common fossils assembles that species' skeleton.

=== Delving XP ===

Each dig grants [[Delving]] XP scaled to how long it took — longer, deeper digs award more.

== Dig sites ==

There is one dig site per [[Biomes|biome]]. Longer digs at deeper sites yield richer crates.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Biome !! Dig site !! Duration !! Delving XP !! Skull chance
|-
| Grasslands || Sunken Barrow || 30 min || 60 || ~8%
|-
| Redwood Wilds || Rootbound Boneyard || 37 min || 74 || ~8%
|-
| Murkwater Swamp || Peatlock Trench || 43 min || 86 || ~8%
|-
| Cavern Depths || Echoing Ossuary || 50 min || 100 || ~8%
|-
| Scorched Badlands || Scorched Wash || 57 min || 114 || ~8%
|-
| Coral Shallows || Reefbed Shelf || 63 min || 126 || ~8%
|-
| Frozen Wastes || Permafrost Cut || 70 min || 140 || ~8%
|-
| Ashen Peaks || Cinder Terraces || 77 min || 154 || ~8%
|-
| Skyreach Plateau || Skyfall Scree || 83 min || 166 || ~8%
|-
| the Sundered Vale || The Shattered Bed || 90 min || 180 || ~8%
|}

== See also ==

* [[Delving]] — the skill that runs digs and sets your slot count.
* [[Museum]] — where skulls and fossils become skeletons.
* [[Expeditions]] and [[Caves]] — where Dig Site Maps come from.

[[Category:Excavation]]
[[Category:Delving]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:44, 14 July 2026
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	! Fossil !! Sell value !! Notes		! Fossil !! Sell value !! Notes
	\|-		\|-
	\| Fossil Bone \|\| 20 \|\| The staple; every dig produces several.		\| {{Icon\|fossil-bone}} Fossil Bone \|\| 20 \|\| The staple; every dig produces several.
	\|-		\|-
	\| Fossil Rib \|\| 35 \|\| Common from the first sites on.		\| {{Icon\|fossil-rib}} Fossil Rib \|\| 35 \|\| Common from the first sites on.
	\|-		\|-
	\| Fossil Vertebra \|\| 55 \|\| From the Murkwater site onward.		\| {{Icon\|fossil-vertebra}} Fossil Vertebra \|\| 55 \|\| From the Murkwater site onward.
	\|-		\|-
	\| Fossil Claw \|\| 80 \|\| From the Scorched site onward.		\| {{Icon\|fossil-claw}} Fossil Claw \|\| 80 \|\| From the Scorched site onward.
	\|-		\|-
	\| Fossil Plate \|\| 120 \|\| From the Frozen site onward.		\| {{Icon\|fossil-plate}} Fossil Plate \|\| 120 \|\| From the Frozen site onward.
	\|-		\|-
	\| Amberized Insect \|\| 200 \|\| Only from the two deepest sites.		\| {{Icon\|amberized-insect}} Amberized Insect \|\| 200 \|\| Only from the two deepest sites.
	\|}		\|}

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	! Biome !! Dig site !! Duration !! Delving XP !! Skull chance		! Biome !! Dig site !! Duration !! Delving XP !! Skull chance
	\|-		\|-
	\| Grasslands \|\| Sunken Barrow \|\| 30 min \|\| 60 \|\| ~8%		\| {{Icon\|grasslands}} Grasslands \|\| Sunken Barrow \|\| 30 min \|\| 60 \|\| ~8%
	\|-		\|-
	\| Redwood Wilds \|\| Rootbound Boneyard \|\| 37 min \|\| 74 \|\| ~8%		\| {{Icon\|redwood-wilds}} Redwood Wilds \|\| Rootbound Boneyard \|\| 37 min \|\| 74 \|\| ~8%
	\|-		\|-
	\| Murkwater Swamp \|\| Peatlock Trench \|\| 43 min \|\| 86 \|\| ~8%		\| {{Icon\|murkwater-swamp}} Murkwater Swamp \|\| Peatlock Trench \|\| 43 min \|\| 86 \|\| ~8%
	\|-		\|-
	\| Cavern Depths \|\| Echoing Ossuary \|\| 50 min \|\| 100 \|\| ~8%		\| {{Icon\|cavern-depths}} Cavern Depths \|\| Echoing Ossuary \|\| 50 min \|\| 100 \|\| ~8%
	\|-		\|-
	\| Scorched Badlands \|\| Scorched Wash \|\| 57 min \|\| 114 \|\| ~8%		\| {{Icon\|scorched-badlands}} Scorched Badlands \|\| Scorched Wash \|\| 57 min \|\| 114 \|\| ~8%
	\|-		\|-
	\| Coral Shallows \|\| Reefbed Shelf \|\| 63 min \|\| 126 \|\| ~8%		\| {{Icon\|coral-shallows}} Coral Shallows \|\| Reefbed Shelf \|\| 63 min \|\| 126 \|\| ~8%
	\|-		\|-
	\| Frozen Wastes \|\| Permafrost Cut \|\| 70 min \|\| 140 \|\| ~8%		\| {{Icon\|frozen-wastes}} Frozen Wastes \|\| Permafrost Cut \|\| 70 min \|\| 140 \|\| ~8%
	\|-		\|-
	\| Ashen Peaks \|\| Cinder Terraces \|\| 77 min \|\| 154 \|\| ~8%		\| {{Icon\|ashen-peaks}} Ashen Peaks \|\| Cinder Terraces \|\| 77 min \|\| 154 \|\| ~8%
	\|-		\|-
	\| Skyreach Plateau \|\| Skyfall Scree \|\| 83 min \|\| 166 \|\| ~8%		\| {{Icon\|skyreach-plateau}} Skyreach Plateau \|\| Skyfall Scree \|\| 83 min \|\| 166 \|\| ~8%
	\|-		\|-
	\| the Sundered Vale \|\| The Shattered Bed \|\| 90 min \|\| 180 \|\| ~8%		\| the Sundered Vale \|\| The Shattered Bed \|\| 90 min \|\| 180 \|\| ~8%