Abstract: An excavation assembly, an apparatus and method of operating the same. At least a portion of the assembly is attachable to a vehicle including a frame and an arm supported on the frame, the arm having one end supported on the frame and an other end movable relative to the frame. The assembly includes an excavation head supportable on the other end of the arm for movement relative to the frame. The head may be substitutable with a hard-tooth excavation component, such as a backhoe bucket. The head includes a support member having a support surface positionable adjacent a surface to be excavated, the support member being attachable to the other end of the arm, a nozzle, and a vacuum. The assembly further comprises a source of pressurized fluid connected to the nozzle so that fluid is provided through the nozzle to cut the surface to be excavated and a source of vacuum pressure connected to the vacuum so that material cut from the surface is removed from the surface.