Árbók Hins íslenzka fornleifafélags - 01.01.1979, Qupperneq 143

ÓDÁÐAHRAUNSVEGUR HINN FORNI
147
Jón Sigui'g-eirsson, 1977: Biskupaleið um Ódáðahraun; Ferðir, blað Ferðafélags
Akureyrar, bls. 15—21; júní 1977, 36. árg. Akureyri.
Ólafur Jónsson, 1945: Ódáðahraun, 1. bindi (425 Ks.) Akureyri.
Pálmi Hannesson, 1958: Frá óbyggðum; Ferðasögur og landlýsingar, (325 bls.)
Reykjavík.
Sigurður Þórarinsson, 1977: Gjóskulög og gamlar rústir; Brot úr byggðasögu,
bls. 5—38; Árbók hins íslenzka fomleifafélags 1976. Reykjavík.
Trausti Einarsson, 1976: Sprengisandsvegur og örlög hans, bls. 69—88; Saga.
Tímarit Sögufélagsins XIV 1976. Reykjavik.
Þórður Flóventsson, 1929: Bárðdæiaþáttur, bls. 189—192; Laxa. og Silunga-
klak á Islandi. Skýrslur um ferðir höfundar og framkvæmdir á íslandi á
árunum 1920—1927 auk Bárðdælaþáttar. (192 bls.) Akureyri.
Þorvaldur Thoroddsen, 1958: Ferðabók I. bindi. Skýrslur um rannsóknir á Is-
landi 1882—1898. (391 bls.) Reykjavík.
Munnlegar upplýsingar: Jón Sigurgeirsson, Geirfinnur Jónsson, Sigurgeir B.
Þórðarson .
SUMMARY
In reeent years a group of enthusiasts from Akureyri have tried to find the
old and long forgotten horse route across the formidable lavafield called Ódáða-
hraun, between Kiðagil or Krókdalur on the west side, and the great river Jökulsá
on the east side (see map) The lava is extremely rougli, although not quite im-
passable with the help of local guides. In the Middle Ages and as late as the seven-
teenth century, the bishops of Skálholt in the South of Iceland and th.eir party
had to cross this lavafield when visiting the distant parts of their bishopric in
the Northeast of the country. Therefore the route is sometimes referred to as
the ”Bishops’ route“. Nowadays it is no easy matter to localize the old route
with certainty. But the Akureyri group managed to point out a whole series of
cairns, which in all probability served to guide a horse caravan through the
exceedingly difficult terrain. Besides, there are no signs of other alternatives,
so the search for the old route seems to have been crowned with success.