Archaeologists have discovered what may be the first direct evidence of Hannibal's war elephants in Spain. A four-inch bone unearthed in Córdoba in 2019 alongside ancient catapult projectiles has been identified as potentially belonging to an elephant from the Second Punic War period. The bone, found during construction work at the Colina de los Quemados site, represents a significant archaeological breakthrough.

Lead researcher Rafael Martínez Sánchez from the University of Cordoba says this discovery provides the first direct archaeological testimony for the use of elephants in ancient warfare. Radiocarbon dating places the elephant's death between the fourth and third centuries B.C.E., aligning with the timeline of the Second Punic War. The bone was found beneath collapsed adobe walls dating to around the third century B.C.E., in the same area as 12 stone artillery projectiles.

While researchers cannot confirm with certainty that this bone belonged to one of Hannibal's famous Alpine-crossing elephants, the discovery marks the first time an elephant bone remnant from this chronology has been found in Iberia or Europe. The poorly preserved specimen has defied DNA and protein analysis, leaving the elephant's exact species unconfirmed. This finding provides tangible evidence for a military strategy that had previously existed only in historical texts and artistic depictions.