I'll echo that this quest is easily soloable. The five dwarf NPCs can easily handle any roaming mobs, and the boss, with your help alone. All you have to do is stay in the middle of the circle (so that they get aggro before you) and help with anything they go after.
The dialogue from the quest is priceless, though, and worth transcribing.
Chief Archaeologist Letoll says: Aright, listen up! Form a circle around me and move out!
Chief Archaeologist Letoll says: Aright, <race>, just keep us safe from harm while we work. We'll pay you when we return.
Chief Archaeologist Letoll says: The dig site is just north of here.
(The team moves out to the dig site.)
Chief Archaeologist Letoll says: We're here! Start diggin'!
(The team spreads out and starts digging.)
Chief Archaeologist Letoll says: I think there's somethin' buried here, beneath the sand!
Chief Archaeologist Letoll says: Almost got it!
Chief Archaeologist Letoll says: By Brann's brittle bananas! What is it?! It... It looks like a drum.
Explorer's League Researcher: Wow... a drum.
Explorer's League Researcher: This discovery will surely rock the foundation of modern archaeology.
Explorer's League Researcher: Yea, great. Can we leave now? This desert is giving me hives.
Chief Archaeologist Letoll says: Have ye gone mad? You expect me to leave behind a drum without first beatin' on it? Not this son of Ironforge! No sir!
Explorer's League Researcher: This reminds me of that one time where you made us search Silithus for evidence of sand gnomes.
Explorer's League Researcher: Or that time when you told us that you'd discovered the cure for the plague of the 20th century. What is that even? 20th century?
Explorer's League Researcher: I don't think it can top the one time where he told us that he'd heard that Arthas's "cousin's" skeleton was frozen beneath a glacier in Winterspring. I'll never forgive you for that one, Letoll. I mean honestly... Arthas's cousin?
Explorer's League Researcher: Explorer's League Researcher: I dunno. It can't possibly beat the time he tried to convince us that we're all actually a figment of some being's imagination and that they only use us for their own personal amusement. That went over well during dinner with the family.
Chief Archaeologist Letoll says: Shut yer yaps! I'm gonna bang on this drum and that's that!
<Chief Archaeologist Letoll bangs on the drum, a Bone Sifter spawns.>
Chief Archaeologist Letoll says: IN YOUR FACE! I told you there was somethin' here!
Chief Archaeologist Letoll says: Don't just stand there! Help him out!
<You fight the Bone Sifter.>
Chief Archaeologist Letoll picks up the drum.
Chief Archaeologist Letoll says: You've been a tremendous help, <race>! Let's get out of here before more of those things show up! I'll let Dwarfowitz know you did the job asked of ya' admirably.