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2h ago

Study Finds Col de la Traversette Most Energy‑Efficient Route for Hannibal’s Alpine Crossing

Quantitative bioenergetic models using modern elephant energetics show lower energy costs for the Traversette route, leaving uncertainty from sparse ancient sources and modelling assumptions.

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Rome eventually vanquished its Carthagenian rivals in the Third Punic War
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Overview

  • The paper published in PNAS on July 6, 2026, models four candidate Alpine routes and ranks the Col de la Traversette as lowest in total energy cost at 5.42 terajoules.
  • The study compares that value to 6.02 TJ for Col de Montgenèvre, 6.28 TJ for Col du Clapier, and 6.45 TJ for Col du Mont Cenis, representing 11%, 16% and 19% higher energy demands respectively.
  • Researchers applied movement‑ecology and bioenergetic models that use elevation and route data together with modern African‑elephant energetics as a proxy to estimate energy use for men, horses and elephants.
  • Modelled physiological results show soldiers would lose about 19% of body‑fat reserves on the Traversette crossing while elephants would lose about 4%, which helps explain high human mortality and relatively high elephant survival.
  • The authors stress that the analysis strengthens the Traversette hypothesis but cannot settle the question because ancient accounts are limited and the method depends on assumptions about elephant physiology and reconstructed terrain.