The first scientific mention of the hillfort was made in 1848 by Ivan Fundukley, governor of Kiev and notable historian.
He mentions a local legend about some town which existed there.
In 1864, the hillfort was briefly described by another student of local history, Lavrentiy Pohilevich.
He reports this legend in more details: in ancient times there was a town with a castle of a prince named Siriak.
The locality around the hillfort is still named Siriakove, and the first recording of this name dates from 1465.

In 1873, Volodymyr Antonovych made more detailed description and drawing of the hillfort.
He interpreted it as Zvenigorod, the fortress of Kievan Rus' known from chronicles.
But archaeological data of 20th century refuted this idea.

In 1917, a bronze Corinthian coin of 5 century BC was found on the hillfort during a botanical excursion.
In 1918, fragments of Scythian pottery and some Slavic things dated from 8-10 centuries AD were found there.

The first archaeological exploration of the hillfort was conducted in 1948 by the team from Institute of Archaeology in Kiev headed by Ye.
F. Pokrovska.
They excavated 156 m² in the northern projection of the hillfort.
Next expedition, headed by Ye.
O. Pokrovska from the same Institute, worked in 1965-1967 and unearthed 508 m² in the vicinity.

In 2004, northern and western parts of the hillfort (6.75 ha) were explored with micromagnetic measurements.
It revealed location of several ancient buildings, some of which were unearthed.
Some additional measurements were made in 2009.

In 2016, new excavations were made on the western side of the hillfort, on the rampart.
The first scientific mention of the hillfort was made in 1848 by Ivan Fundukley, governor of Kiev and notable historian. He mentions a local legend about some town which existed there. In 1864, the hillfort was briefly described by another student of local history, Lavrentiy Pohilevich. He reports this legend in more details: in ancient times there was a town with a castle of a prince named Siriak. The locality around the hillfort is still named Siriakove, and the first recording of this name dates from 1465.
In 1873, Volodymyr Antonovych made more detailed description and drawing of the hillfort. He interpreted it as Zvenigorod, the fortress of Kievan Rus' known from chronicles. But archaeological data of 20th century refuted this idea.
In 1917, a bronze Corinthian coin of 5 century BC was found on the hillfort during a botanical excursion. In 1918, fragments of Scythian pottery and some Slavic things dated from 8-10 centuries AD were found there.
The first archaeological exploration of the hillfort was conducted in 1948 by the team from Institute of Archaeology in Kiev headed by Ye. F. Pokrovska. They excavated 156 m² in the northern projection of the hillfort. Next expedition, headed by Ye. O. Pokrovska from the same Institute, worked in 1965-1967 and unearthed 508 m² in the vicinity.
In 2004, northern and western parts of the hillfort (6.75 ha) were explored with micromagnetic measurements. It revealed location of several ancient buildings, some of which were unearthed. Some additional measurements were made in 2009.
In 2016, new excavations were made on the western side of the hillfort, on the rampart.
Khotiv hillfort