Excavating apparatus and methods for breaking and removing material away from an upright face of material are disclosed. The apparatus employs a rotary cutter for dislodging material from the face. A collector pan extends transversely across the front end of the apparatus. The cutter is elevationally movable relative to the collector pan in both longitudinal and elevational directions above and below the collector pan front edge, and btween positions located longitudinally outward and rearward of the collector pan front transverse edge. A combination grading and collecting device is mounted at an elevational positon below the collector pan front transverse edge. It functions to both gather material dislodged by the cutter and to form surfaces over which the apparatus travels.