This is the 3459th most frequent Chinese word.
挖掘
"挖掘" means "to excavate" or "to dig."
The usage of "挖掘" here metaphorically means to thoroughly investigate or discover information related to local history.
他正在挖掘关于当地历史的记录。
He is excavating records about local history.
In this sentence, "挖掘" refers to the physical act of digging or excavation as part of construction work.
施工队开始挖掘道路以安装新的管道。
The construction team started excavating the road to install new pipelines.
Here, "挖掘" metaphorically refers to the process of uncovering or realizing one's inner abilities or talents.