No remains in burial pits

But protesters will fight on

Campaigners fighting plans to dual the A9 over the Battle of Killiekrankie site have insisted their fight has not been dealt a blow, despite no human remains being found.

Earlier this week, members of the Killiecrankie and Fincastle Community Council were updated on the final archaeological reports being carried out on the site of the Jacobean battle of Killiecrankie.

Jacobs had been tasked with completing additional archaeological work on the battle, which was requested by Historic Environment Scotland.

This comes after members of the community objected to Transport Scotland’s plans to dual the A9 over the battlefield site.

The results of the survey, as well as any design refinements from Transport Scotland as a result, will soon be displayed in Killiecrankie Village Hall.

Members of the public can view them during two drop-in sessions at the hall on Wednesday, October 31 and Thursday, November 1.

However, the preliminary results of the study found no evidence of human remains in any of the pits that were investigated in June.

Campaigners say this does not deter from their initial objections to the A9 dualling plans.

A spokesperson for the campaign group KilliecrAnkie1689 said: “The preliminary results found no evidence of human remains in any of the pits that were investigated in June.

“However, this only answers one part of Historic Environment Scotland’s objection to the proposal and does not address any of the points made in the objections of the Killiecrankie and Fincastle community.

“Indeed, when this community submitted their objections, we were unaware of the existence of the ‘pits’ that were recently investigated.

“More and more, the focus on archaeology surveys appears a ploy to divert attention from the fundamental points of the main objection.”

The spokesperson added: “The basis of this community’s objection is and remains the way in which the current plan would compromise, damage or destroy five key assets on the battlefield, the inclusion of laybys on the battlefield, [and] the development of an access road from the B8079 to the water treatment plant.”

Historic Environment Scotland had objected to Transport Scotland’s proposals by asking whether the overall alignment is the most appropriate.

It also demanded Transport Scotland demonstrates how its proposal keeps the infrastructure footprint on the battlefield site to a minimum.

This only answers one part of the objection