The bone that could be evidence of the mythical passage of Hannibal’s war elephant through Europe

An elephant foot bone found by archaeologists excavating in southern Spain could be evidence that a troop of elephants war devastated ancient Europe.

“Beyond ivory, the discovery of elephant remains in European archaeological contexts is exceptionally rare,” states the team of scientists in an article published in Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports.

Often considered one of the most successful commanders of the classical era, Hannibal led his army from the powerful imperial city of Carthage, in modern-day Tunisia, towards Europe in his fight for control of the Mediterranean.

He is believed to have led soldiers and animals from Carthage through Spain and France to invade Italy, crossing the Alps with 37 elephants in 218 BC during the second of the so-called Punic Wars.

It is presumed that the remains found in Spain belong to an animal that died before reaching the Alps.

Archaeologists, led by Professor Rafael M. Martínez Sánchez, found the elephant bone under a collapsed wall at a site called Colina de los Quemados.

The topmost row is the Iron Age elephant bone found in Spain.

Carbon dating techniques were used to estimate the age of the 10 cm cuboidal bone.

The result led them to believe that it dates back to the Second Punic War.

They also compared bones from modern elephants and steppe mammoths to determine which animal it came from.

The team found artillery, coins and pottery during the 2020 excavations, providing further clues that the site was the site of a battle.

“As they are non-native species and the largest living land animals, these imported specimens would have required transportation by ship.”the academics stated.

They point out that it is highly unlikely that dead animals were transported, and that the bones are unattractive, suggesting that they were not decorative or used in crafts.

However, scientists warn that it will be very difficult to determine what species of elephant it was.

By Editor