Excavation Site

Level: 24-29 per Blizzard's dungeon article (20 Oct), the newest Blizzard figure. Older numbers: beta notes 26-31 (1 Oct), Icy Veins 26-33. Its quests need level 24.
Where: above Whelgar's Excavation, near Thelgen Rock and Dun Algaz, Wetlands.
Getting there as Horde: the Wetlands has no Horde flight point (beta client). Wowhead: walk in through Hillsbrad and Arathi, and grab the Tarren Mill and Hammerfall flight points on the way !.

Grab before you go

• Changing Tastes: Borstan, the Cooking trainer in Orgrimmar (meat from the Thicket beasts)
• Dragonmaw Rumors: Zaruk, Arathi Highlands (74.4, 35.6). It unlocks Open the Maw from a Deathstalker Agent outside the dungeon (kill the Dragonmaw inside).
• Elder Knowledge: starts from the Titan Relic off the Relic Guardian. Hand it in to Bashana Runetotem on the Elder Rise, Thunder Bluff; you keep the relic for the follow-up, Earthen Echo.

Bosses

• Saltspine: Dust Storm cuts hit chance by 25% near him, so casters stay out of melee; Tendon Rip slows the tank.
• Shadetooth: two Thicket Hunters (Infected Wound on the tank, dispel it), stealthed raptors nearby. AoE fear, Rend, enrages at 30%.
• Relic Guardian: start it at the Archival Panel. Knockbacks, stuns, Thunderclap slow.

Drops (both guides agree)

• Saltspine: Glinteye Slippers (cloth), Supple Bellyskin Leggings (leather), Saltscale Girdle (mail)
• Shadetooth: Garb of Florid Feathers (leather), Raptorclaw Greaves (mail), Raptor's Gaze (spell off-hand)
• Relic Guardian: Reliquary Mantle (mail), Ring of Power Regulation (spell ring), Golemsight Long Gun (agi gun)

Legacy: required for the 15-25 point (beta client data).

Sources Blizzard · Dev notes · Icy Veins guide · Icy Veins quests · Wowhead · Client data