Settlement development and food supply in the hinterland of Vindonissa

This paper is based on the results of an MA thesis (2021) on the economic impact of the Roman legionary fortress of Vindonissa (Switzerland) and the economic interactions with its hinterland. It analyses the settlement structures and diachronic settlement development during the military presence and introduces the SIMFOOD model to calculate the food demand and supply of the military and civilian population, focusing on meat and grain as the main components of the daily diet. It also treats Vindonissa and the nearby colonia Augusta Raurica as an economic area of two population centres competing for resources. The model calculates demand and supply based on various assumptions and parameters. The results indicate an adequate supply of meat but a significant gap in the supply of grain in the research area throughout the military presence at Vindonissa.