Hannibal's trek across the Alps: geomorphological analysis of sites of geoarchaeological interest

Mahaney, William C.; Kalm, Volli; Dirszowsky, Randy W.; Milner, Michael W.; Sodhi, Rana; Beukens, Roelf; Dorn, Ron; Tricart, Pierre; Schwartz, Stéphane; Chamorro-Perez, Eva; Boccia, Sal; Barendregt, René W.; Krinsley, D. H.; Seaquist, E. R.; Merrick, David; Kapran, Barbara

OPUS: Open Uleth Scholarship

Hannibal's trek across the Alps: geomorphological analysis of sites of geoarchaeological interest

Mahaney, William C.; Kalm, Volli; Dirszowsky, Randy W.; Milner, Michael W.; Sodhi, Rana; Beukens, Roelf; Dorn, Ron; Tricart, Pierre; Schwartz, Stéphane; Chamorro-Perez, Eva; Boccia, Sal; Barendregt, René W.; Krinsley, D. H.; Seaquist, E. R.; Merrick, David; Kapran, Barbara

URI: https://hdl.handle.net/10133/6173

Date: 2008

Keywords : Hannibalic invasion of Italia ; Fired rock controversy ; Geomorphology ; Geoarchaeology ; Alps ; Hannibal's invasion route ; Punic invasion of Italia ; 218 B.C. ; Hannibal, 247 B.C.-182 B.C. ; Italy--History ; Carthage (Extinct city)--History, Military ; Geomorphology--Alps Region ; Archaeological geology--Alps Region ; Petrology--Alps Region ; Punic War, 2nd, 218-201 B.C.--Campaigns--Italy

Citation: Mahaney, W. C., Kalm, V., Dirszowsky, R. W., Milner, M. W., Sodhi, R., Beukens, R., Dorn, R., Tricart, P., Schwartz, S., Chamorro-Perez, E., Boccia, S., Barendregt, R. W., Krinsley, D. H., Seaquist, E. R., Merrick, D., & Kapran, B. (2008). Hannibal's trek across the Alps: Geomorphological analysis of sites of geoarchaeological interest. Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry, 8(2), 39-54.

Abstract:

A ~2200 year-old question related to Hannibal’s invasion route across the Alps into Italia, has been argued by classicists without recovery of material evidence. A comparison of topographical descriptions in the ancient literature with environmental parameters in the Alps, attempted here for the first time, provides a database against which various pathways can be assessed. Identification of sites using geological, geomorphological, astronomical, chemical and petrological methods leads to the exclusion of certain transit points and targeting of others where geoarchaeological excavation might yield important evidence related to the military culture of ancient Carthage