Cryptic crossword clue
Old enclosure and shed found in excavation

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word OPENCAST

I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
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More clues leading to the result OPENCAST

Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "excavation" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case excavation = opencast.
The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.
This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.

What does OPENCAST mean?

OPENCAST adjective
  1. Of or pertaining to strip mining, in which material is removed from a surface that has been exposed

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