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Ancient Bone May Link Hannibal to War Elephants

2/7/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Researchers say a wrist bone, baseball-sized, found in Córdoba in 2020, may belong to the Carthaginian general Hannibal's war elephants.
The finding is published in the Journal of Archaeological Science and may be the first elephant evidence tied to Hannibal's Second Punic War march.
The bone was found with artillery ammunition and a Carthaginian coin.
The species remains unknown, but the find may show elephant use in Western Europe.

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Story summary

Researchers say a wrist bone, baseball-sized, found in Córdoba in 2020, may belong to the Carthaginian general Hannibal's war elephants.
The finding is published in the Journal of Archaeological Science and may be the first elephant evidence tied to Hannibal's Second Punic War march.
The bone was found with artillery ammunition and a Carthaginian coin.
The species remains unknown, but the find may show elephant use in Western Europe.