Contents
Overview
Excavation Site is a new dungeon in the Wetlands, built on a hilltop above Whelgar’s Excavation Site, where a strange mist has rolled down from the mountains and the Explorers’ League has found a place that seems frozen in time. Inside, you fight through crocolisk coves, a raptor-infested thicket, and the Dragonmaw clan before facing a titan construct that guards the dig. It’s one of nine new dungeons launching with World of Warcraft: Forever, and both factions use the same entrance.
Blizzard’s dungeon overview lists Excavation Site at level 24-29, but the beta opened it as a 26-31 dungeon, the boss drops require level 26 to 28, and the final boss is level 31. Its quests can be picked up from level 24, but most groups will have a much easier time at 26 or higher.
Getting There
The entrance sits at the top of the hill southeast of Whelgar’s Excavation Site, between Thelgen Rock and Dun Algaz, reached by a newly built road. There’s no key or attunement: walk up the hill and step in.
The Wetlands graveyard is a long way from the entrance, so a full wipe means a long run back. Bring a class that can resurrect, and don’t let the whole group die at once if you can avoid it.
Excavation Site Map
Map by Santiago Reyes, Atlas of Azeroth: Forever. Used with the artist’s permission.
Boss Quick Reference
The trash deserves as much respect as the bosses. Thicket Lurkers wait in stealth in the tall grass and jump anyone who wanders through it, and Thicket Matriarchs call more Lurkers to their aid at low health. Further in, the Dragonmaw clan holds part of the site with Warders, Saboteurs, Thaumaturgists, and Captive Fire Elementals, and Oil Slimes and Tar Oozes lurk around the dig.
Critical Mechanics
Stay out of the tall grass. It’s where the Thicket Lurkers hide, and every step through it risks another pull. Walk the narrow path, fight in open ground, and kill Thicket Matriarchs last in a pack, so the Lurkers they call arrive when little else is left.
Don’t fight Shadetooth and both Thicket Hunters at once. Crowd-control one or both Hunters, or kill them one at a time, and dispel Infected Wound, which makes the target take more physical damage. Terrifying Roar can’t be dispelled, so pull Shadetooth back to the cleared crocolisk cove before the fight: a fear in the grass can drag a player into new raptors.
Relic Guardian is a gear and level check. It hits the tank hard, knocks them back with Knock Away, and stuns everyone nearby with War Stomp. Use tank cooldowns, stun and slow the boss, and keep the healer and ranged players outside Thunderclap’s 10-yard range.
Notable Loot
Saltspine and Shadetooth’s drops require level 26, and Relic Guardian’s require level 28. 
Blueprint: Greenhouse and Blueprint: Rock Garden can also be bought from the Happy Camper vendor if they don’t drop. Relic Guardian also drops the Titan Relic that starts each faction’s relic questline.
Quests
Every quest here can be accepted from level 24, but they’re level 31 quests, so they turn grey late and are worth carrying for a few levels.
The relic chains have the best rewards. 
Prehistoric Prism offers the 
Explorer’s League Dustcover, 
Healer’s Staff, or 
Heavehammer, and Earthen Echo offers Heavehammer, Healer’s Staff, or 
Furs of the Earthen Ring. Horrors in the Highland offers 
Ironwood Destroyer, 
Curl of Life, or 
Hornbeam Heft, and Changing Tastes also teaches the Twice-Spiced Raptor Slice recipe.
Tips & Tricks
Pick up your quests before the trip. They start all over the map, from Ashenvale and Redridge for the Alliance to Orgrimmar and Hammerfall for the Horde, so collect them while you travel to the Wetlands.
Loot every Thicket raptor. The meat and hides are quest items for Changing Tastes and Highland Hides, and you’ll be fighting plenty of raptors anyway.
Bring crowd control and a dispel. Shadetooth’s fight is far easier with both Thicket Hunters controlled, and Infected Wound should come off quickly.
Don’t skip the Titan Relic. It drops from the last boss, starts the best-rewarded quest chain for both factions, and is handed back to you if you lose it.
Related Guides
- City of Dalaran Guide — the next Forever dungeon, levels 28-33
- Ruins of Lordaeron Guide — Horde’s early dungeon, levels 15-20
- Hall of Thanes Guide — Alliance’s early dungeon, levels 13-18
- WoW Forever Leveling Changes — dungeon XP and how leveling 1-60 works in Forever