digs up

Digs up means to unearth something by digging, whether literally removing soil to extract an object or figuratively uncovering information that was hidden or forgotten.

You might dig up old photographs from the attic or dig up dirt on a political opponent.

The phrase often carries connotations of effort and discovery: Reporters dug up evidence of widespread corruption.

When someone digs up the past, they're usually revisiting matters others would prefer stayed buried.