Final answer:
Destructive excavation prior to the 19th century includes the earth-moving activities of the 'battle-axe' people in Europe c. 5,000 years ago, and the environmental impact of gold prospectors using hydraulic mining in the 1850s and 1860s.
Step-by-step explanation:
An example of destructive excavation prior to the 19th century would be the activities conducted by the so-called 'battle-axe' people around 5,000 years ago in Europe, particularly in the south of England. These aggressive groups were intent on warfare and political domination and built fortified settlements, which would have required significant earth-moving and potential destruction of pre-existing structures or sites. Another historical instance of destructive excavation practices includes the first gold prospectors in the 1850s and 1860s in the United States, who resorted to hydraulic mining methods that employed high-pressure water jets to remove sediment and rocks, heavily disrupting the landscape and potentially damaging natural and cultural sites.