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Image Credit: Agustín López and Rafael Martínez
Elephant Bone Found in Spain Linked to the Era of the Punic Wars
Archaeologists in southern Spain have identified an elephant bone dating to around 2,200 years ago, offering rare physical evidence connected to the use of war elephants during the Punic Wars between Carthage and Rome. The discovery was made near Córdoba and is associated with the period of the Second Punic War.
The bone, a carpal element from the foreleg of an elephant, was recovered during excavations at a fortified Iberian settlement. Radiocarbon dating places it in the late third century BC, a time when Carthaginian forces were active in the region. The site shows signs of conflict, including stone projectiles interpreted as catapult ammunition, indicating a military engagement at the settlement.
Elephants were famously used by Carthaginian armies during campaigns against Rome, particularly under the command of Hannibal Barca during the Second Punic War (218–201 BC). Until now, archaeological evidence for these animals in Iberia has been largely indirect. The newly identified bone represents one of the clearest physical traces linked to this military practice.
Researchers suggest the elephant likely died during fighting near the settlement. Most of the skeleton appears to have decomposed, while the recovered bone survived due to protection from collapsed structural remains. An alternative explanation—that the bone was preserved intentionally as a kept object—cannot be ruled out.
Although the find cannot be directly tied to the elephants that crossed the Alps into Italy, it provides tangible evidence of Carthaginian military presence in Iberia. As such, the discovery contributes to a clearer archaeological understanding of warfare and logistics during the Punic Wars and highlights the role of elephants as instruments of ancient military power.
Published on: 03-02-2026
Edited by: Abdulmnam Samakie
Source: Live Science