The Sushen were the first people inhabiting the area of modern Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces mentioned in Chinese records. They were active during the Western Zhou period (Xizhou 西周) and had relationships with the northern fiefdom Yan 燕. Chinese histories tell that they were later called Yilou 挹婁. Archeological relics in the northeastern area are attributed to the Xituanshan Culture 西團山文化 and show that the people of this culture was certainly from the Tungus branch of the Altaic peoples.