delver
One who excavates
A delver is someone who digs or excavates, though the word now appears mostly in figurative contexts: a delver into archives, a delver after truth.
The verb delve originally meant to dig with a spade, and delver retains that earthy undertone even when describing intellectual excavation.
In fantasy gaming, delvers explore underground dungeons and caverns.
Pointed digging implement
- oreMetal-bearing rock
- coalCombustible sedimentary rock
- goldElement seventy-nine
- silverLustrous white precious metal
copper · diamond · shaft · tunnel · drill · excavate · prospector · gemstone
Underground hollow in rock
- cavernLarge natural underground chamber
- spelunkingExploring caves recreationally
- stalactiteHanging cave mineral deposit
- stalagmiteUpward-growing cave deposit
grotto · subterranean · limestone · karst · calcite · flowstone · sinkhole · headlamp
Subterranean prison chamber
- labyrinthIntricate passage network
- crawlerSomething that inches along
- rogueDishonest or uncontrolled agent
- treasureValued wealth or keepsake
quest · depths · torchlight · adventurer · loot · trap · monster · crypts
Act of unearthing
- artifactsHuman-made historical objects
- digUnearth by shoveling
- siteDesignated location
- trenchLong narrow excavation
stratigraphy · potsherds · carbon-dating · ancient · civilizations · ceramics · epigraphy · numismatics
pickaxe
Pointed digging implement
silver · copper · diamond · shaft · tunnel · drill · excavate · prospector · gemstone · vein
cave
Underground hollow in rock
- cavernLarge natural underground chamber
- spelunkingExploring caves recreationally
- stalactiteHanging cave mineral deposit
stalagmite · grotto · subterranean · limestone · karst · calcite · flowstone · sinkhole · headlamp · descender
dungeon
Subterranean prison chamber
- labyrinthIntricate passage network
- crawlerSomething that inches along
- rogueDishonest or uncontrolled agent
treasure · quest · depths · torchlight · adventurer · loot · trap · monster · crypts · catacombs
excavation
Act of unearthing
trench · stratigraphy · potsherds · carbon-dating · ancient · civilizations · ceramics · epigraphy · numismatics · prehistoric
investigator
One who examines evidence
- scholarLearned, studious person
- archivistKeeper of historical documents
- researcherOne who studies systematically
librarian · sleuth · inquirer · manuscripts · documents · records · archives · databases · sources · footnotes