King's Path: A secret road from the Great Northern War has been discovered in Sweden (photos).

Archaeologists have uncovered a hidden route from the time of Charles XII, which played a crucial role in Sweden's military history. This overland path was used during the Great Northern War for the covert transportation of warships in 1718, writes Heritage Daily.

The secret route, known as Galervägen, was instrumental in King Charles XII of Sweden's plan to outsmart his enemies. It facilitated the transport of twelve massive military galleys, each weighing up to 30 tons, across a 25-kilometer stretch of land between Strömstad and Iddefjorden. These efforts were aimed at a surprise naval attack on the fortress of Fredriksten.

Recent archaeological studies conducted by the Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research (NIKU) in collaboration with the Bohuslän Museum and the Vienna Institute of Archaeological Science (VIAS) have revealed traces of this secret road near Blomsholm in Bohuslän, Sweden.

This discovery was made during tests of the advanced AutoMIRA system, a new tool for ground-penetrating radar investigations. The site was chosen due to its rich cultural history, particularly the ship settlement of Grönhegg, burial mounds, and stone circles.

Using ground-penetrating radar, researchers identified linear structures over 160 meters long, believed to be remnants of wooden tracks laid for the transportation of heavy galleys.

"This area offers a wonderful glimpse into the historical landscape, but the discovery of the secret historical route exceeded all our expectations," said the project's lead archaeologist, Erik Nau.

As the scientists note, these findings not only confirm the existence of the king's secret path but also showcase Sweden's strategic ingenuity at a critical moment in history.

We also reported on the unexpected discovery by Turkish archaeologists. In western Turkey, researchers uncovered an ancient bath that locals had used for years as a stable.