Hannibal’s deed has been remembered for centuries. In 218 BC, the Carthaginian general led his enormous army of tens of thousands of soldiers – some sources indicate that he led a force that reached 80,000 men – across the Pyrenees and the Alps until they reached Italian soil.
The journey was not easy. The unevenness and temperatures affected the infantry and cavalry of Carthage (including its war elephants) as they passed through the current region of Cerdanya until they probably established a camp in Illiberis (modern Elna, near Perpignan).
Recent discoveries at the Tossal de Baltarga site, in Bellver de Cerdanya, indicate that the cold and altitude were not the only problems that Aníbal faced. Archaeologists from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) have found a strategic settlement burned to the ground 2,200 years ago.
The charred remains of this building, as explained in an article published in the journal Frontiers in Environmental Archeology, have revealed many details of this Iron Age village, from the livestock they raised to the food they cooked, the fabrics they made or the treasures they possessed.
“The destruction of Tossal de Baltarga occurred towards the end of the 3rd century BC, at which time the Pyrenees were involved in the Second Punic War and the passage of Hannibal’s troops,” points out Dr. Oriol Olesti, main author. of the study.
“It is likely that the violent events that occurred at the site were related to this war. The general fire points to an anthropogenic, intentional and very effective destruction: not only building G, but all the buildings in the area were reduced to ashes. In Building D we found a complete dog, burned…”, he adds in a statement.
Tossal de Baltarga was a fort of the Ceretana community, an Iberian town that occupied Cerdanya and the Segre river valley and had an important settlement in the nearby Castellot de Bolvir. The burned site appears to have had no defensive walls, but had an excellent view over the river and travel routes.
Its sudden destruction preserved organic remains, allowing archaeologists to paint a detailed picture of the life its occupants led until it was burned. “These valleys were an important territory from an economic and strategic point of view,” says Olesti.
“We know that Hannibal crossed the Pyrenees fighting against the local tribes, probably the Ceretans. Not many archaeological remains remain from this expedition. Tossal de Baltarga is probably one of the best examples,” admits the archaeologist.
Building G had two floors. The fire burned so strongly that the roof, support beams and upper wooden floor collapsed. But some valuables survived the fall. Investigators found an iron pickaxe and a gold pendant hidden in a small pot.
This upper floor appears to have been divided into spaces for the kitchen and textile production. Numerous lathes and loom weights were found, which could have been used to spin and weave wool for the sheep and goats that lived on the lower floor. Edible grains such as oats and barley, and some cooking containers, have also been found, with residue showing that local people had been drinking milk and eating pork stews.
Although no human remains have been found, six animals did not escape the flames: four sheep, a goat and a much older horse that could have been ridden by the owners of Building G, since a bit of metal was found. They were all locked in wooden enclosures with their food. Perhaps they were trapped by a closed door, which would explain the burned wood found at the entrance.
“Our reconstruction involves sudden destruction, with no time to open the barn door and save the animals,” Olesti says. “This could simply be an unexpected local fire, but the presence of a hidden gold earring indicates anticipation by the local population of some kind of threat, probably the arrival of an enemy. Also, having so many animals in a small barn suggests that they saw danger coming,” he adds.
This confinement could have been a deviation from usual practices, caused by fear of conflict: isotope analysis indicates that some sheep had previously grazed in the lowlands, possibly through an agreement with other communities. “These mountain communities were not closed in the highlands, but connected with neighboring areas, exchanging products and, probably, cultural background,” points out the UAB researcher.
Archaeologists do not know what became of the people who lived in the Tossal de Baltarga, but it was eventually reoccupied and garrisoned by the Romans. It is likely that a part of the community survived the jurisdiction. Perhaps remembering the fire of Building G, the settlement’s new occupants built defenses, including an impressive watchtower.
