早在二十(shi)世(shi)紀三十(shi)年代,我國考(kao)古(gu)學(xue)家(jia)李(li)文(wen)(wen)信和日本考(kao)古(gu)學(xue)者(zhe)在這(zhe)里(li)作過考(kao)古(gu)調查(cha);解放(fang)戰(zhan)爭時期,國民黨軍隊在西團(tuan)(tuan)山(shan)(shan)挖(wa)戰(zhan)壕露出許多石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)棺(guan),引起了(le)考(kao)古(gu)工作者(zhe)的(de)注意;東(dong)(dong)北師范(fan)大(da)學(xue)歷史系(xi)師生(sheng)在這(zhe)里(li)先后挖(wa)掘(jue)(jue)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)棺(guan)15座(zuo)(zuo),1950年,東(dong)(dong)北考(kao)古(gu)發掘(jue)(jue)團(tuan)(tuan)又清理挖(wa)掘(jue)(jue)出19座(zuo)(zuo),出土的(de)遺物有(you)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)斧、石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)錛、石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)刀(dao)、陶、陶壺、陶缽、陶碗(wan)、陶三足器等。東(dong)(dong)北考(kao)古(gu)發掘(jue)(jue)團(tuan)(tuan)發表了(le)《吉林西團(tuan)(tuan)山(shan)(shan)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)棺(guan)墓發掘(jue)(jue)報(bao)告》,首(shou)先提出“西團(tuan)(tuan)山(shan)(shan)文(wen)(wen)化(hua)(hua)(hua)”這(zhe)一(yi)科學(xue)命名(ming),這(zhe)樣西團(tuan)(tuan)山(shan)(shan)遺址(zhi)就(jiu)成了(le)在東(dong)(dong)北地區富(fu)有(you)特色的(de)“西團(tuan)(tuan)山(shan)(shan)文(wen)(wen)化(hua)(hua)(hua)”的(de)命名(ming)地了(le)。生(sheng)活在這(zhe)里(li)大(da)約三千年前(qian)的(de)西團(tuan)(tuan)山(shan)(shan)人,還沒(mei)有(you)能(neng)力將一(yi)塊(kuai)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)頭鑿成一(yi)口大(da)棺(guan)材,考(kao)古(gu)學(xue)家(jia)所發掘(jue)(jue)的(de)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)實(shi)際是(shi)(shi)用天然石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)板砌成或塊(kuai)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)壘成的(de)一(yi)種葬具。西團(tuan)(tuan)山(shan)(shan)文(wen)(wen)化(hua)(hua)(hua)是(shi)(shi)吉林大(da)地上(shang)一(yi)種獨具特色的(de)原始文(wen)(wen)化(hua)(hua)(hua)遺存(cun),是(shi)(shi)農業(ye)由(you)“刀(dao)耕(geng)火(huo)種”進(jin)入(ru)鋤耕(geng)的(de)階(jie)段,其社(she)會(hui)性質由(you)父(fu)系(xi)氏族(zu)社(she)會(hui)向階(jie)級社(she)會(hui)過度(du)。西團(tuan)(tuan)山(shan)(shan)文(wen)(wen)化(hua)(hua)(hua)遺存(cun)對研究(jiu)東(dong)(dong)北歷史上(shang)家(jia)庭、私有(you)制(zhi)的(de)起源(yuan),原始人類社(she)會(hui)制(zhi)度(du)的(de)改(gai)變和東(dong)(dong)北少數(shu)民族(zu)的(de)繁衍生(sheng)息,都具有(you)十(shi)分重(zhong)要的(de)價值。2001年6月,西團(tuan)(tuan)山(shan)(shan)遺址(zhi)被定為國家(jia)重(zhong)點文(wen)(wen)物保護單位。
西團山文(wen)(wen)化(hua)具有濃(nong)郁的地(di)方特點。作(zuo)為西團山文(wen)(wen)化(hua)具代表性的墓地(di)之(zhi)一,在東北(bei)地(di)區青銅(tong)文(wen)(wen)化(hua)研究(jiu)中占據重(zhong)要(yao)的位置,具有廣泛的影響。同時,它對研究(jiu)中國東北(bei)地(di)區的古代民族關系(xi)也提供了非常重(zhong)要(yao)的材料。