When road improvements of the so-called Konungsvegur (King’s Road) in Þingvellir National Park began last week, old paving stones appeared from underneath the asphalt. These are likely the remains of the original King’s Road from 1907, constructed when King Frederick VIII of Denmark (and Iceland at the time) visited the country.
“One can always anticipate something unexpected to surface in Þingvellir,” Einar Sæmundsen, information representative of the national park, told mbl.is of the discovery, adding that it makes the road improvements all the more exciting.
The paving stones are considered archaeological relics and thus an archaeologist will follow the proceeding of the project closely from now on. The road may have to be redesigned so that the remains of the old road will be made visible.
“It will delay the project but without compromising it,” Einar concluded. The next steps will be decided shortly.
