It provides shelter, and also if the dirt is a little moist, it helps him retain moisture better. I also believe that it can help prevent pyramiding. Most animals that I see with pyramiding have 1 thing in common, and that's hydration. All tortoises need an area of higher humidity where they can keep themselves moist. Burrowing species construct burrows, other species hide beneath objects and plant life that help maintain a generally higher humidity, and many will hide under dirt/leaf litter if given the chance. Tortoises kept in enclosures that have the same or less humidity than a general household tend to have the worst pyramiding in my experience (regardless of what they were fed: Calcium is another very important aspect to shell growth though). Enclosures like aquariums with screen tops, open top bins, etc. that offer only the same humidity has the ambient humidity in the room (which is usually extremely low) all tend to have important rolls in dehydrating reptiles, especially those not typically found in the desert. Something as simple as a humid hiding box can help.

And that's one of the things that I think your tort is trying to achieve by digging. That and finding shelter while he is getting used to his new home. Shelter and hydration are two key factors in staying alive in the wild.

Give him time, keep providing food for him (but don't force him to eat), and make sure he has plenty of places to hide. It's a whole new world for him, full of birds, small animals, tons of things that he views as predators. Don't touch him unless you think something has gone horribly wrong. Interaction will cause a lot of unnecessary stress at this point, which will cause him to stay submerged in the soil even longer.

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