[ 摘要 ]
本研究以中部地區為對象，利用鐵器時代沿海平原地區的三個重要考古遺址－番仔園、惠來、鹿寮來了解當時人群的互動與遷移狀況。以三遺址出土人骨的粒線體DNA序列分析，探索中部鐵器時代人群與現代原住民在基因上的關聯性，並以其他相關研究，了解他們的遷移路線。粒線體DNA結果顯示，中部鐵器時代人群與部分現代原住民有親緣關係。且中部地區由於資源豐富，適宜定居，而成為人群聚集的區域，有不同於現代原住民的單倍群出現。其所屬的單倍群顯示，鐵器時代人群起源地與亞洲大陸有高度的關聯性。
以單倍型（haplotype）的共享狀況來看，年代最早的番仔園出土人骨，其母系血緣與泰雅族最為接近，然後是布農與阿美。布農族分佈於中部山區，而泰雅族也源自南投山區。因此，番仔園所屬的單倍型可能與山區的大馬璘文化有關，在營埔時期（約3000B.P.）從平原進入南投山區。年代最晚的鹿寮人骨則與布農族較為接近，鹿寮遺址據信為平埔拍瀑拉族的舊社，語言學研究認為拍瀑拉族可能有過族群遷移，其原居地可能與布農族的巒社群發源地濁水溪流域有關。年代介於中間的惠來人骨則沒有與現代原住民比對資料有相同的單倍型，其所屬之單倍群也不見於現代南島語族。筆者推測，惠來遺址是長期居住的大型聚落，居民可能有著較為多樣的基因。
許多研究顯示，高山原住民由於山地阻隔，基因流動較不頻繁，彼此間都很不一樣。然而平原地區人群過去長時間都有頻繁的交流與互動，並同屬於一個大的文化體系之下。以本研究之古代DNA結果來看，中部鐵器時代人群的基因組成與部分現今居住在高山地區的原住民一樣古老。但是由於平原地區較易受到外來文化的影響，在基因組成方面可能會比高山原住民更為多樣化。
[ 英文摘要 ]
This study is focused on Central area of Taiwan and based on three important Iron Age plains and coastal archaeological sites-Fan-Zai-Uan, Lu-Liao and Hui-Lai, dating between 2000 and 400 B.P. This period is so called “Iron Age”. Mitochondrial DNA extracted from human remains of these three sites will tell us the genetic relation between the Iron Age people and modern aboriginal populations of Taiwan. Combing other pertinent researches of this subject, we can delineate the possible migration route of Iron Age people. The results of ancient DNAs（aDNAs）indicate that Iron Age people in Central Taiwan have genetic affinities with some modern aboriginal populations. The haplogroups of aDNAs show that their maternal origin might be the mainland of Asia.

Based on haplotyes shared with modern aboriginal populations, Fan-Zai-Yuan sample is closely related to Atayal ethnic group. Atayal came from mountain area of central Taiwan. The haplotype of Fan-Zai-Yuan sample possibly has a connection with Da-Ma-Lin archaeological site, which is located in the central mountain area and affected by cultures from plains. Lu-Liao sample is close to Bunun ethnic group. Lu-Liao site is where Papora used to live. A linguistic study suggests that Papora might come from the Zhuo-Shui river, which is a possible homeland of Luan community of Bunun. The Hui-Lai sample shares no haplotyes with any modern aboriginal populations. The haplogourp is also hardly found in modern Austronesian, possibly because lots of populations lived here and had a large gene pool.

Recent genetic researches show that modern aboriginal populations are heterogenous because of geographic reasons. However, people who live in plains interacted frequently and belonged to the same culture system for a long time. Based on the results of aDNAs analysis, the Iron Age people arrived lowland central Taiwan as early as part of modern indigenous people who live in mountain area today. Moreover, people who live in plains were more likely to be affected by other cultures. Genetically speaking, their population structures tend to be more diverse.