EHG5248 - DBA and walkover survey - Land at Carn Dhomhnuill Bhain, Dalwhinnie

A DBA and Walkover Survey were carried out by Rathmell Archaeology in 2018 as part of an Environmental Impact Assessment for the extension of a quarry. The baseline of the historic environment was established, this identified five historic environment sites that fall within, or in proximity to, the proposed development. Three of these sites were sequential Royal Observer Corps posts; the first two being above ground aircraft observation posts from WWII and the Cold War while the third was an underground monitoring bunker also from the Cold War. A 19th to 20th century quarry was also identified within the development area. Adjacent to the development area is the line of the 18th century Military Road, overlain by the modern A889. The expansion of the quarry will not affect the Military Road. Further, the quarry has been designed to protect and enhance the underground monitoring bunker. The above ground aircraft observation posts will be removed as a consequence of the extraction. The loss of the WWII Royal Observer Corps observation post is a significant adverse impact on the Historic Environment. A programme of mitigation works, based around archaeological recording and excavation, have been specified to offset this physical loss. The knowledge recovered from these works will enhance our understanding of the many other observation posts in the Highlands. <1>