The excavation involves an area of 100 × 100 m in the territory of Baranello. The zone is characterised by the presence of a circuit of polygonal walls almost 3 km long enclosing an area of almost 50 hectares.
The data collected indicates that the area was occupied as early as the 4th century B.C. At the end of this century the perimeter wall, with three “sceo” type defensive gates, was built. During the Social War the settlement underwent a reduction in size, however sporadic finds suggest that occupation was continuous until the medieval period, when, on the highest part, Monte Vairano, a castle was built by the Knights Templar. Destroyed before the mid 14th century, only the outer perimeter and some traces of the interior walls remain.
The interior of the Samnite settlement, despite the sloping terrain, presents wide level areas created through the construction of sustaining walls at the edge of the areas themselves, where the dwellings were probably situated. Excavations in previous years revealed evidence of various roads which converge on this area. Moreover, apart from the structures already brought to light, including a cistern with brick walls over 6 m deep, the remains of a building were uncovered whose central position and size (8 × 16 m) seem to indicate was of a public nature. The site is already known for its contribution to providing information about Italic and Samnite settlements form between the 4th and 1st centuries B.C. (MiBAC)