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Excavation Sites
May 22, 2026 at 09:43 AM
Added a How Excavation Sites Work section, a typical loot table, the level recommendation and quest gate for the Blackbeard Ruins site, the three ancient chests, Tumbaga ascension
Excavation Sites are ancient ruin POIs being looted by hostile parties in Windrose. The most story-relevant example is the Blackbeard Ruins Excavation Site, which Doctor Galen's investigation in The Bitter Pill leads the player to. Excavation Sites are distinct from plain Ancient Ruins in that they feature fortifications, steel cages, and active pirate operations.
Excavation Sites are a sub-type of Points of Interest rather than randomized scenery. Their layouts are hand-placed, so the fortifications, cages, and crate positions stay consistent between visits even though the surrounding island is procedurally generated. Each site is held by a hostile crew that you must clear before the interior loot is safe to gather, which makes them combat encounters first and looting runs second.
Unlike open Caves or mining chambers, an Excavation Site rewards reading the camp before you engage. Walls, palisades, and the steel cages funnel movement, so pulling one patrol at a time from cover is far safer than charging the center. Bring ranged options for the Grenadier and Juggernaut guards, and keep stamina in reserve for the heavy hitters.
The signature reward is Tumbaga Ingots, the weapon ascension material used at the Weaponsmith Workshop to lift a Rare weapon to Epic rarity. The same metal also turns up in chests tied to Blackbeard Treasure Maps, so a cleared site is a reliable stop on an ascension farm route.
Tumbaga Ingots: used for weapon ascension and cannon upgrades.
Gunpowder crates: often branded with trading-company insignias that tie into side-quest reveals.
Quest-critical lore: letters, maps, and crates referenced in main-story conversations.
Pirate patrols: expect Blackbeard-aligned enemies including Grenadiers and Juggernauts.
Reward | Notes |
|---|---|
Weapon ascension material. Used at the Weaponsmith Workshop to take a Rare weapon to Epic. | |
Gunpowder crates | Often stamped with a trading-company insignia. These crates can be the proof item a side quest asks for. |
Common in side containers. Stock up before the next ranged fight. | |
Found in non-quest containers along the approach route. | |
Ancient chests | Hand-placed chests separate from the quest crates, carrying mixed loot worth a detour. |
The Blackbeard Ruins Excavation Site sits southwest of Thomas Richards' camp. The northwest end of the ruins holds the Gunpowder Crates next to a steel cage. The crates carry the Arnaud Trading Company insignia, which is the smoking gun for The Bitter Pill.
Reaching this site is tied to The Bitter Pill, a side quest that Doctor Galen opens after the main quest I Need a Bigger Boat. A character level around 9 is recommended before you commit, since the resident Blackbeard-aligned crew hits hard. The crate evidence eventually points back to Francois Arnaud in Tortuga and the pirate ship the Grim Reaper.
The ruins also hold three ancient chests set apart from the quest crates. They are worth opening on the same run, since the detour is short once the patrols are down. Expect more Drowned and pirate resistance the deeper you push, so clear methodically rather than sprinting for the back chests.
Clear the outer pirate patrols before committing to the interior. Stacking multiple patrol pulls is the primary cause of death.
Loot all crates on the way in; some non-quest containers hold Iron Bullets and Healing Potions.
Drop a Fast Travel Bell if you will return for additional Tumbaga runs.
