It was discovered by Swedish geologist Johan Gunnar Andersson in 1924 at Mount Siwa (寺洼山) in Lintao County, hence its name.

[2] It flourished circa 14th to 11th century BC,[3] it is tentatively attributed to the cultures of the Northern Di, Qiang, and Xunyu peoples.

[8] The Siwa culture has often been associated with the tribes appearing in Chinese historical sources, such as the Rong (Xirong, Shanrong, Quanrong...) or the Qiang.

However, questions are raised against this theory since Siwa sites are small with low subsistence levels.

[12] One of Siwa culture's main characteristics is pottery with saddle-shaped openings (马鞍口陶罐),[13] It is also distinguished by its bronze objects.