Were there ever Hanibal elephant remains found in the alps?

Question

Hanibal crossed the Alps with a herd of elephants. Most elephants died in the icy mountains. Remains should be there and very well conserved. Any evidence of this?

Answer 1

Hannibal's trek through the Alps was chronicled by several contemporary sources, but none of them indicate which route the army used and that route remains to this day a subject of study and conjecture.

Knowing that, I would make the assumption that no elephant remains have ever been found in the Alps. If they were to be found it would virtually end the debate over Hannibal's route.

The historical sources also do not indicate how many elephants died in the journey. As best as I have heard, Hannibal's army included "scores" of pack animals and elephants. I did read that only 37 elephants survived the entire trip, but no one knows how many, or if any for that matter, died in the Alps.

Knowing the Alps is a treacherous range notorious for its nasty weather, I imagine excavations would be extremely difficult even if archeologists knew where to look. If someone does ever find something I think we can rest assured we'd hear about it.

Answer 2

Well, not exactly the remains.....if you catch my drift.