Throwing a hand grenade into local history

An underwater archaeological dig near Pitlochry for a new TV show discovered one of the first hand grenades used on British soil.

A team from Sky History series River Hunters came across the ‘nationally important’ grenade fragment at the River Garry.

The river is at the site of the 1689 Battle of Killiecrankie which saw the Jacobites defeat British soldiers.

Government troops are thought to have used grenades for the first time in the battle.

It is only the second time a hand grenade from the 17th century has been found on British soil. Another was discovered at Killiecrankie in 2003 by archaeologists from Glasgow University.

American ‘river detectorist’ Beau Ouimette found the cast-iron fragment, which is to go on display at a museum, and called it “awesome”.

He said: “It looks like a little baby cannonball that’s exploded and it even has a fuse hole in the top. It’s certainly one of my most rare finds. I can’t believe we actually found it.”

Appearing on the programme, which is scheduled for next month, archaeologist Dr Natasha Ferguson said: “It’s an extraordinary find as there has only ever been one other fragment of grenade found and that was up in the fields.

“Grenades, cast-iron shells filled with explosives, were used in 1689 at Killiecrankie by grenadier guards.

“They were about the size of a large apple or pomegranate.

“They would have carried three with them as well as a hatchet, a firearm and a sword. They were the shock troops of their day.”

River Hunters: The Battle of Killiecrankie is on Sky History on April 5 at 9pm.