In a remarkable archaeological find, researchers in Córdoba, Spain, have unearthed a small elephant bone dating back to the time of the Punic Wars. This baseball-sized bone, fitting comfortably in the palm of a hand, may represent one of the rare archaeological links to the war elephants employed by the Carthaginian forces during their campaigns against Rome.
Historical accounts characterize these majestic creatures as both psychological instruments and formidable assets on the battlefield, capable of disrupting enemy formations and altering military strategies. The iconic image of Hannibal leading his elephants across the Alps has captivated imaginations for over two millennia.
As noted by the researchers, "The deployment of elephants as 'war machines' on European soil during the Punic Wars has significantly influenced Western art, literature, and culture, creating a legacy that persists through classical writings." Despite this, most evidence has been derived from literary sources rather than physical remains.
The Elephant in Spanish Carthage
The discovery occurred at Colina de los Quemados, a site linked to the ancient oppidum of Corduba, near modern Córdoba. A rescue excavation in 2020, conducted prior to the construction of a hospital, revealed an Iron Age industrial zone, complete with ovens, walls, and streets, some of which had been sealed by destruction.
Within the same layer of destruction, archaeologists also uncovered approximately a dozen stone spheres, believed to be ammunition for ancient catapults, alongside a heavy bolt point from a torsion weapon. Coins and ceramics date this layer to the third century B.C., coinciding with the Second Punic War, a period marked by intense conflict between Carthage and Rome for control of the Iberian Peninsula.
The elephant bone, located beneath a collapsed adobe wall, was identified as a carpal bone from the right forefoot of an elephant. The researchers specifically identified it as the right third carpal, also known as the os magnum or capitatum.
Although the bone's preservation was insufficient for DNA or protein analysis, the researchers attempted radiocarbon dating. While collagen analysis failed, they dated the mineral fraction, yielding results that suggest the bone is from the fourth to third centuries B.C.
Rafael Martínez Sánchez, the lead author of the study, remarked, "Until now, there has been no direct archaeological evidence of the use of these animals. This finding could represent a significant milestone."
Evidence, Caution, and Context
While this singular bone cannot encapsulate the entirety of Hannibal's legendary narrative, the researchers emphasize the importance of contextual understanding. They caution that this elephant was likely not one of the famed creatures that traversed the Alps with Hannibal. Much of the evidence surrounding that legendary march is indirect, comprising altered soils and chemical traces along proposed routes.
Instead, the bone reflects the everyday realities of warfare in Iberia, surfacing alongside battlefield remnants--catapult stones, weapon fragments, and coins--indicating violence in the vicinity.
"The destruction level documented at Colina de los Quemados aligns with emerging patterns of events linked to the Second Punic War, some corroborated by literary sources and others not, encompassing both siege and open battlefield scenarios," the authors noted.
Some speculate that the bone might have been carried as a trophy or keepsake. However, the study authors argue that short carpal bones are "neither particularly attractive nor useful for craftsmanship," making them unlikely candidates for trade goods.
Although imported ivory was a luxury trade that reached Iberia centuries earlier, actual elephant skeletons from antiquity are exceptionally rare outside of Africa.
The researchers conclude with a note of cautious optimism: "The carpal bone from Colina de los Quemados in Córdoba may stand as one of the few instances of direct evidence regarding the use of these animals during Classical Antiquity, not only in the Iberian Peninsula but throughout Western Europe."
The findings were published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports.