Dung proves that Hannibal crossed Alps the hard way

HANNIBAL’S crossing of the Alps with 30,000 soldiers, 9,000 cavalry and a herd of elephants remains one of the greatest military feats in history.

Now researchers have proved that the Carthaginian general’s achievement was even more remarkable than previously believed, unearthing evidence that he chose a particularly perilous route.

Details of the exact journey he took to make his audacious strike at the heart of the Roman Empire have always been shrouded in mystery. But now the riddle has been solved – thanks to animal dung.

Soil containing traces of horse manure has been carbon dated to 218BC, the time of Hannibal’s crossing, and show that he took the Col de la Traversette, a narrow bridle path 2,900metres above sea level that links the Guil Valley in France with the Po Valley in Italy. Previous speculation he took this route was discounted because of its difficulty.

Chris Allen from Queen’s University, Belfast, said: ‘It was an absolute revelation.’

The research will be revealed in Hannibal’s Elephant Army: The New Evidence on Channel 4 at 8pm next Sunday.