近年來考古學對於人口移動的研究逐漸由大規模人口遷徙的討論轉向小規模的人口流動，並更細緻地探討其成因及與當時社會的關係，而其中離散社群成為一個重要的研究方向。本文從探討離散社群在社會科學的概念開始，論及其對於近年考古學討論人口流動研究的影響與應用，並特別聚焦於貿易離散的討論。最後以長江三峽地區井溝口東側的東周時期楚式墓地為例，主張該墓地的墓主應為楚國至巴國進行鹽業貿易的貿易離散商人，而非過去學者所主張的楚國派至巴國進行鹽資源掠奪的軍隊。

In recent years, archaeological research of migration not onlygradually change from large-scale to small-scale population movements,but also search for more detailed exploration of migration purposesand impacts on contemporary societies. Among these research issues,diasporic group is one of important research topics. In this artcile, I startfrom exploring the concept of diasporic groups in social science and thendiscuss its influences and applications on current archaeological researchof people movement, especially research of trade diaspora. In the end,I take Eastern Zhou period Chu-style cemetery in the eastern bank ofGanjinggou River mouth in the Three Gorges as an example to argue thatthe burial owners in this cemetery are trade diasporic merchants for salttrades from the Chu State to the Ba State. This argument is different fromprevious research which treats these burial owners as Chu military troopsfor looting salt from the Ba State.