本文的目的試圖利用目前現有的考古發現，來討論台灣史前人類的生業模式和飲食習慣；此外，並簡要陳述有關考古材料如何在不同分析研究方法的進行下，獲得認識和理解台灣古代飲食文化表現的案例；根據研究資料顯示，台灣在距今五千年前新石器時代的大坌坑文化裡，就已經出現相當完善的稻米和小米的栽培作業；此外，漁撈、狩獵和採集的生計活動也都提供了當時主要的食物資源。文中亦以1.利用相關活動工具出土頻率統計；2.利用生態遺留的量化分析；3.人骨同位素分析；和4.藉由牙齒形制、磨損與病理學分析等四種方法，伴隨已完成的研究案例，來說明台灣史前文化人表現不同攝食取向的內容和意義。

Based on the archaeological remains, this paper discusses the subsistence pattern and dietary system in ancient Taiwan. In addition,some case studies are briefly described to show how archaeological findings may yield information about prehistoric diet. Recent researches have discovered that the earliest rice and millet cultivation was carried
out at Nan-kung-li, Tainan which belongs to the Tapenkeng cultural
settlement about five thousand years ago. However, fishing, hunting, and
gathering were still primary means in food resources procurement.
Besides case studies, the paper also presents four methods in interpreting
the contents and significance of different diet behaviors in ancient
Taiwan: 1) by measuring the frequency of tool assemblages related to the
subsistence activities; 2) through quantitative analysis of faunal remains;3) through isotopic analysis of human bones; and 4) by examining dental morphology, dental wear, and pathology.