An L-shaped digging tooth includes a trapezoidally configured shank having inner and outer sides. A toe portion projects laterally from one of its edges. An angle of about 90.degree..+-.30.degree. is defined between the general plane of the toe portion and the plane of the shank. The shank and toe portion terminate in a common, continuous cutting edge of L or V-shaped configuration having a convex outer boundary and a concave inner boundary. This cutting edge intersects at a leading cutter point, a free inner edge of the toe portion which extends along a line convergent with the shank portion plane. The tooth is hard-faced over a zone adjacent the common leading edge. The invention further relates to an endless chain excavating assembly which includes the described L-shaped teeth arrayed in a specific sequence with, and geometric relationship to, cup-shaped teeth of a known type, with both secured at spaced intervals to an endless chain.