Spain bone may be first physical trace of Hannibal's war elephants
TL;DR
An elephant bone found near Cordoba, Spain, dating to the Second Punic War era, could be the first concrete relic linked to Hannibal’s war elephants. The 10 cm fragment, recovered from an Iron Age site with other artifacts, suggests such beasts were transported by ship and used in Europe, though the bone likely belongs to an elephant that died before crossing the Alps. Species identification remains uncertain, but the find underscores how rare elephant remains are in European archaeology and may mark a notable clue in the Punic Wars narrative.
- Ancient bone found in Spain could be from Hannibal's war elephants BBC
- Elephant Bone in Spain May Be Proof of Hannibal’s Tanks With Trunks The New York Times
- Archaeologists claim discovery of Hannibal’s war elephants The Times
- First Solid Evidence of Hannibal's Infamous War Elephants Discovered in Spain ScienceAlert
- 2,200-Year-Old Bone Unearthed In Spain May Be First Direct Evidence Of Hannibal's War Elephants IFLScience
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