Scientists Stumble on a Long-Lost 'Galley Road' Used During Great Northern War to Transport Ships Secretly

Recently a team of experts from the Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research has uncovered Galärvegen, or ‘Galley Road’ in Sweden. Historians believe this Galärvegen route was used during the Great Northern War by King Charles XII to transport ships, stated Popular Mechanics. The secret pathway was hidden from the public eye. Researchers found the famed route on Blomsholm through geo-radar analysis. "This area provides a unique insight into the landscape of the past," Erich Nau, project manager for NIKU stated.

The traces of this famed route were located in December 2024 during a geo-radar project, according to Archaeology News. The project aimed to search for prehistoric settlements and old ship settings, but during the exercise, the team stumbled on the 1718 transport route. Experts found many parallel straight structures which they believe are possibly remnants of timber logs. Experts think soldiers laid down these timber logs to make the ground stable for galleys. The entire finding is spread across 160 meters. Nau was elated to have become part of such an important discovery. "This spot gives us a unique look at old landscapes, but discovering a hidden historical route was beyond our expectations. The survey revealed clear traces of the Galärvägen (Galley Road) from 1718, which is undoubtedly one of the most exciting finds from this investigation," he said.

Researchers believe the finding will give new insights regarding what is believed to be one of Sweden’s boldest military moves in the Great Northern War. Fredriksten Fortress at Halden was a key stronghold on the border, that Sweden needed to conquer to increase their chances of winning the war. The fortress was under the control of Sweden's enemies, who had successfully defeated all previous attempts made by King Charles XII to conquer the stronghold. The emperor formulated a plan to launch a surprise attack on his foes and gain control of the fortress. For this, he needed to move his ships on land and make them bypass a blockade at the fjord’s entrance.

The blockade was the barrier that was not allowing King Charles XII's forces to attack through land, therefore the enemies were fairly confident that attacks would not come from that side, according to Popular Mechanics. They had focused all their resources on preparing for a naval attack. Hence, a land attack gave the emperor the best opportunity to invade the fortress. To achieve this objective, the king's forces spent day and night transporting twelve galleys, each weighing 30 tons from Strömstad to Iddefjorden. The pathway used for this purpose came to be known as the Galärvegen route. Though the pursuit was hard, soldiers managed to achieve it with the help of pulleys, hoists, blocks, horses, and greased logs. Unfortunately, things did not end well for the emperor who died the same year.

Experts believe that such discoveries showcase how modern technology can help in finding out more about past times. "The discovery of Galärvägen allows us to combine historical sources with modern technology to explore and share significant parts of our shared cultural heritage," Roger Nyqvist from Bohusläns Museum said.