1.
tomb raider; grave robber; illegal excavator
A person who illegally digs up tombs, ancient ruins, or protected sites to steal artifacts or valuables. Also used for those who illegally collect plants or minerals from protected land.
古墳が盗掘者に荒らされた。
The ancient tomb was ransacked by tomb raiders.
警察は盗掘者グループを逮捕した。
The police arrested a group of tomb raiders.
遺跡周辺では盗掘者を防ぐためにパトロールが強化されている。
Patrols have been stepped up around the ruins to prevent tomb raiders.
Compound of 盗掘 (illegal excavation; tomb robbing) + the suffix 者 (person who does —). 盗 carries the sense of "stealing," 掘 means "to dig."
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 盗掘者に襲われる: to be raided by tomb robbers
- 盗掘者を捕まえる: to catch tomb robbers
- 盗掘者対策: countermeasures against tomb robbing
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 墓荒らし: grave robbing; grave robber — more colloquial; can refer to the act or the person
- 泥棒: thief — general word for any thief