Originally posted by AsianGirlLover:

You can also use the hoe to raise the ground of the tar pits. It’s not as fun as digging a giant trench, but it’s aesthetically pleasing, at least.

Any items will raise up with the ground.

A friend tried this, and the tar blobules you can typically pick did not raise with the bit, only items previously stuck in the tar. Do this and you're missing out on a ton of tar.