In the 15th century, in the area of modern Bakhchisarai, in Salachik, near the fortress of the Yashlav Beys in Kirk-Yer, the khan's palace of the first rulers of the Crimean Khanate was built. This is where the history of Bakhchisarai begins.

By 1578, as noted by Martin Bronevskiy, another city, Salachik, already existed at the end of Bakhchisarai, with beautiful houses, a khan's palace, mosques, tombs, and baths. Of all this, only two monuments have survived to this day: the madrasa and the dюрбе, a mausoleum built during the reign of Khan Mengli Girey. The name of the madrasa Zyndzhirly comes from the Turkic word "zyndzhir," meaning "chain," as an iron chain is hung under the lintel of the main entrance, forcing everyone entering to bow their heads before the sanctuary of Muslim science.

Above the entrance to the madrasa is a slab with an inscription indicating the date of its construction: "This school was ordered to be built by the grace of God by Mengli Girey Khan, son of Hadji Girey Khan. May God prolong his reign until the end of the age. Year 1500." The founder of the Girey dynasty, Hadji Girey, first settled in the city of Crimea, now Old Crimea, and then moved his residence to Kirk-Yer. Evliya Çelebi described this place as consisting of five quarters and five sanctuaries. Previously, there were more mosques, baths, and madrasas, but only the madrasa of Mengli Girey and the hamam have survived to this day. In 2003, the foundations of the hamam were discovered, and in 2007 excavations began, which revealed layers of the kyu'l-khan. In 2008, more extensive archaeological work began in the protective zone of the madrasa.

The building of the Zyndzhirly madrasa has an almost square shape with an inner courtyard surrounded by a gallery divided into ten parts by pointed arches, each covered by a small dome. The outer side of the gallery is surrounded by 14 rooms for classes. Research conducted in 1961 did not allow for a precise determination of the construction period of the madrasa.

From November 2006 to January 2010, the Bakhchisarai archaeological expedition conducted comprehensive research to prepare the monuments for restoration. Inside the madrasa, cultural layers from the 13th and 14th centuries were studied, as well as floor structures from the 16th century. Remains from the Golden Horde period were discovered and reburied in the cemetery near the mosque. In the protective zone of the madrasa, the foundations of walls for waterproofing were opened, and the ground in front of the southern facade of the building was lowered to reveal a possible portal.

Based on stratigraphy, it was determined that an outbuilding in the protective zone dates back to the mid-20th century and was demolished for further work. During the research, a mosque was discovered in front of the southern facade of the madrasa. Trenches were laid for the restoration of the building's domes. Archaeological finds include ceramics, a coin of Mehmed II from 1475, architectural remains, and other artifacts indicating cultural layers from the 14th to 18th centuries.

Research was conducted in all rooms surrounding the courtyard. The total area of the research was 525 sq. m to a depth of 0.5 to 3 m. A 16th-century fountain water supply system was discovered. The foundations of six columns supporting the madrasa's domes were excavated.

During the excavations, many archaeological materials from the 15th and 18th centuries were found: fragments of architectural details, gravestones, construction ceramics, plinths, tiles, plaster, water pipes, red clay ceramics with green glaze, ceramic candlesticks, inkpots, painted jugs and dishes, smoking pipes, glass bracelets, imported ceramics, and metal products. These finds testify to the development of local production of glazed ceramics, which, although related to products from Persia, the Caucasus, and Turkey, has its unique features.

Recent excavations show that part of the glazed ceramics was produced by local craftsmen from local raw materials and could be sold on site.