The settlement lies in in Barabanivska gully. This archaeological resource is located 25 km from the city of Simferopol and 1 km to the south from Balanovo village. In 2008 the scientists initiated the excavations on the area comprising of five quadrants (size 5×5 m).
Within quadrant No.8 archaeologists uncovered a western corner of a stone building, rectangular in plan, whose long axis is oriented East-West (room 1). It had been partially excavated in 2007. Construction of room No.1 was preceded by leveling of the slope: the western part of the area was deepened into the bedrock, while the eastern part of it was leveled in the occupation layer. An unusual method was applied here: a number of vertically set wooden poles were used for the construction of the stone walls. To the south of room No.1, in its immediate vicinity, the remains of another stone building were found (room 2). Three walls of room.2 survived. The walls of both premises are single-layer in vertical transverse section, consisting of flat stones of various size; the stones are laid irregularly, with no mortar used.
In adjacent quadrants No.7 and No.11 other two walls were identified, joining at a right angle. They are much wider than all the other walls discovered at the site. Unlike the others they are faced on two-sides, with three layers in vertical cross-section. External and internal shells are composed of fairly large stones, coursed irregularly. Small and medium-sized stones were bonded with clay. Typically, such walls were used for construction of defensive fortifications. In their inner space the researchers discovered a burned deposit bounded by masonry, which covered a large number of pits made in the bedrock. Some of the pits could be intended for setting wooden poles; inside two pits in situ the bottoms of molded vessels were found.
Excavations also made it possible to reveal 21 functional pits. There were 2 pits of this type, whose ‘entrances’ were made of six-row masonry.
The main findings originating from the layers, pits and other household fittings, are fragments of light-clay and red-clay amphorae, molded dishes and ovens. Fragments of pottery (including red-glazed vessels) are not numerous. Among notable findings: an iron nail and a bronze fibula, ceramic spindles and weaving plummets.
Multiple osteological materials relating to various pets (cattle, horses, donkeys, pigs, dogs, cats), wild animals (foxes, hares, wild boars, kulan, saiga, red deer) – to a lesser extent, and birds, fish and frogs (as defined by O.P. Zhuravlev) were identified.
Here the archaeologists also revealed a burial inside an oval pit dug in the bedrock, where the remains of two babies rested. One skeleton was damaged, with only a few bones preserved. The second skeleton was in a crouched position, on his left side, towards northwest – southeast. The legs are bent, knees to the abdomen, arms bent at elbows, the right hand stretched a bit further to the right. Both burials lack grave goods. This is the tenth infant burial found at the settlement area.
At the sites excavated in 2008 two types of occupational layers were found. They provide evidence for the two periods of the occupation of the settlement: the first period is represented by functional pits, which are overlain with buildings; the second period – by rooms No.1 and No.2, as well as by walls (possibly the remains of defensive structures).
In addition the archaeologists studied the construction techniques, numerous functional pits, babies’ burials within the occupational layer, molded ceramic vessels and other finds – all the listed proves that the settlement should be attributed to the Late Scythian culture. However it dates to a later period than any other Late Scythian archaeological resources known to date – to the III-IVth century.