Could the local population of the Lower Rhine delta supply the Roman army? Part 2: Modelling the carrying capacity using archaeological, palaeo-ecological and geomorphological data

Abstract

In this part two of a diptych of articles, we modelled and quantified the carrying capacity of<br/>the landscape and the demand and supply of the Roman army in the western Lower Rhine<br/>delta with wood and food in the period A.D. 40 - 140. The absolute volumes of the wood and<br/>food were calculated (in m³ and kCal) and converted into surfaces needed (in km²). In addition,<br/>the acreage of available land in the area was quantified (in km²). A comparison of these<br/>various values reveals that the carrying capacity of the landscape was larger than hitherto<br/>assumed. Initially, the landscape was not limiting for the total demand. However, the pressure<br/>on the landscape increased due to a growing population, and because of this the upper limits<br/>on the possibilities of production set by the landscape may have been reached in the second<br/>century A.D. Furthermore, our calculations show that wood and food, especially cereals,<br/>could be procured from agrarian settlements in the immediate surroundings. Therefore, the<br/>local population was probably much more involved in the provisioning of the Roman army in<br/>the Lower Rhine delta. It seems likely that the Roman army combined local provisioning with<br/>extra-regional supply and long-distance transport.