digging up

When Tanton blended ecology with eugenics and immigration, he was digging up the two-century-old principles of Thomas Malthus, who first theorized that human population growth would lead to poverty and suffering.

Workers who were digging up soil near the cages were believed to have brought in contaminated soil through their shoes, Hong Kong's Culture, Sports and Tourism Secretary told local broadcaster RTHK.

They have also been accused of using intimidation if a farmer refuses to sell by digging up footpaths, and forcing them to eventually give up the land.

By night, he’s a music industry crusader – digging up obscure gems and persuading record labels to make them available online.

No such restrictions in the US, where anyone digging up a dinosaur on their own property is entitled to do with it as they please and that includes making a handsome living out of it.