Residents of the small Zamoran village of Bamba, consisting of just 16 inhabitants, made an unusual request to the Federico Wattenberg Center for Vacceo Studies at the University of Valladolid. They inquired if the Carthaginian general Hannibal Barca had destroyed their village back in 220 BC. Historically, the settlement now known as Bamba was referred to as Arbucala and was situated on the hill of El Viso, an area that was once home to the Vaccei, a Celtic culture that occupied about 45,000 square kilometers of the middle Duero valley.

The inquiry highlights a unique cultural and historical legacy that the villagers are eager to explore and validate. Carlos Sanz, director of the Vacceo site of Pintia and a renowned expert on this ancient culture, acknowledged that the request was indeed peculiar but reflects an interest in the historical significance of their location. The research is important as it helps to excavate and understand the traces left by ancient civilizations in modern Spain.

As the association Hispania Nostra launches a fundraising campaign to finance the excavations of this ancient Vaccean city, the story captures a fascinating intersection of local history with wider historical narratives. It illustrates how smaller communities can engage with their past, seeking to understand their connections to significant historical events and figures through academic support and archaeological study.