yes it's a post hole auger. We have spots that are rocky as well and that's when I use a san angelo bar to pry out big rocks, which sounds like what you're describing.
Thanks. That's it. Never knew the english name because that name is not at all used here. This is an essential tool here.
It's not worth expending the energy to try and dig out large rocks or boulders. Much more efficient to use a hammer and pins. Greatly reduces the time and energy input, and makes the stones easier to dispose of. You can split truly massive boulders using this method, it's very old, and very easy (so long as you have a decent drill and bit).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtY0q2F9SjY
Absolutely no sense to split rocks and leave them in place here, as everything is rocks! The aim is to remove a good amount of the rocks, so as to make a hole to fill in with good trucked in soil. The bar pries them loose, then can easily remove with shovel or by hand.
I wasn't suggesting they be 'left there', obviously.
If you split the rocks, it's easier to cart them off/ dig out the halves. It saves time and energy. Try it.
