Between 1871 and 1914, diamond diggers using picks and shovels removed an estimated 22.5 million tonnes of earth from a single site in Kimberley, leaving a crater about 1.6 kilometres in circumference. It is often cited as the largest excavation ever dug entirely by hand.
Record no. MRB-2026-005662
Largest Hand-Dug Excavation on Earth
Reference Record – Not Certified
This record is compiled from publicly available sources for reference. It has not been examined or certified by The Book of World Records.