Previously unknown coal pits have been found in the area around the volcano Hekla in south Iceland which indicate that the area used to be forested. Forest reclamation is currently being prepared there through the initiative Hekluskógar.
Hekla. Photo by Geir Ólafsson.
Geographer Fridthór Sófus Sigurmundsson has been working on research in Thjórsárdalur valley lately and organizing the execution of the Hekluskógar project.
During his travels he has come across ancient coal pits, some of which were already known and registered as well as others that were previously undiscovered, as stated on the project’s website.
“Coal that was found in a coal pit in Raudukambar, in the inner Thjórsárdalur valley, has been roughly age analyzed and seems to be from around 1500,” Sigurmundsson wrote.
He also found an ancient coal pit by Kinnar east of Hrauneyjar and has sent the coal retrieved there to age analysis.
