FIELD: mechanical engineering. SUBSTANCE: invention relates to the field of mechanical engineering, namely to the technology for creating earth-moving machines. The working body of a trench excavator consists of a rotor made in the form of a wheel with a diameter D with a rotation drive, and n buckets arranged around the wheel and connected thereto. The buckets are therein located in accordance with certain ratios relative to the centre of the rotor and to each other. EFFECT: reduction in the power consumed by the drive of the working body of the trench excavator. 1 cl, 1 dwg.