早在(zai)二十(shi)世紀三十(shi)年代(dai),我(wo)國(guo)(guo)考(kao)古(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)學(xue)家李文(wen)(wen)(wen)信和日(ri)本考(kao)古(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)學(xue)者在(zai)這(zhe)(zhe)里作過考(kao)古(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)調查;解放戰爭(zheng)時期,國(guo)(guo)民(min)黨軍隊在(zai)西(xi)(xi)團(tuan)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)挖(wa)戰壕露出(chu)許多石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)棺,引起(qi)了(le)(le)(le)考(kao)古(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)工作者的(de)(de)(de)注意;東(dong)(dong)(dong)北師(shi)(shi)范(fan)大(da)(da)學(xue)歷史系(xi)師(shi)(shi)生在(zai)這(zhe)(zhe)里先后挖(wa)掘(jue)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)棺15座,1950年,東(dong)(dong)(dong)北考(kao)古(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)發(fa)掘(jue)團(tuan)又清理挖(wa)掘(jue)出(chu)19座,出(chu)土的(de)(de)(de)遺物有(you)(you)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)斧、石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)錛、石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)刀、陶、陶壺、陶缽(bo)、陶碗、陶三足器等。東(dong)(dong)(dong)北考(kao)古(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)發(fa)掘(jue)團(tuan)發(fa)表了(le)(le)(le)《吉(ji)林西(xi)(xi)團(tuan)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)棺墓發(fa)掘(jue)報告(gao)》,首先提出(chu)“西(xi)(xi)團(tuan)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)文(wen)(wen)(wen)化”這(zhe)(zhe)一科學(xue)命名(ming),這(zhe)(zhe)樣西(xi)(xi)團(tuan)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)遺址就成(cheng)了(le)(le)(le)在(zai)東(dong)(dong)(dong)北地(di)區富有(you)(you)特(te)(te)色的(de)(de)(de)“西(xi)(xi)團(tuan)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)文(wen)(wen)(wen)化”的(de)(de)(de)命名(ming)地(di)了(le)(le)(le)。生活在(zai)這(zhe)(zhe)里大(da)(da)約(yue)三千年前(qian)的(de)(de)(de)西(xi)(xi)團(tuan)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)人(ren),還沒(mei)有(you)(you)能力(li)將一塊石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)頭鑿成(cheng)一口(kou)大(da)(da)棺材,考(kao)古(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)學(xue)家所發(fa)掘(jue)的(de)(de)(de)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)實際是(shi)用(yong)天然石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)板砌成(cheng)或塊石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)壘成(cheng)的(de)(de)(de)一種(zhong)葬具(ju)。西(xi)(xi)團(tuan)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)文(wen)(wen)(wen)化是(shi)吉(ji)林大(da)(da)地(di)上一種(zhong)獨(du)具(ju)特(te)(te)色的(de)(de)(de)原(yuan)始文(wen)(wen)(wen)化遺存(cun),是(shi)農業由“刀耕(geng)火種(zhong)”進入鋤耕(geng)的(de)(de)(de)階(jie)段,其社會性質(zhi)由父系(xi)氏(shi)族社會向階(jie)級社會過度(du)。西(xi)(xi)團(tuan)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)文(wen)(wen)(wen)化遺存(cun)對(dui)研(yan)究東(dong)(dong)(dong)北歷史上家庭、私(si)有(you)(you)制(zhi)的(de)(de)(de)起(qi)源,原(yuan)始人(ren)類(lei)社會制(zhi)度(du)的(de)(de)(de)改變和東(dong)(dong)(dong)北少數民(min)族的(de)(de)(de)繁衍生息,都具(ju)有(you)(you)十(shi)分重要的(de)(de)(de)價(jia)值。2001年6月,西(xi)(xi)團(tuan)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)遺址被(bei)定(ding)為國(guo)(guo)家重點文(wen)(wen)(wen)物保護單位。
西團山文(wen)化(hua)具有濃郁的(de)地(di)方特點。作為(wei)西團山文(wen)化(hua)具代表性(xing)的(de)墓地(di)之一,在東北地(di)區(qu)青銅文(wen)化(hua)研究(jiu)中(zhong)占據重要的(de)位(wei)置,具有廣泛的(de)影響。同(tong)時,它(ta)對研究(jiu)中(zhong)國(guo)東北地(di)區(qu)的(de)古代民族關系(xi)也(ye)提供(gong)了(le)非常重要的(de)材料。