The ancient town site of Dzalisi dates from the 2nd century BC to the 8th century AD. The population first settled on the Dzalisi hill (5–6 ha) on the right bank of the Narekvavi River. In antiquity, at the turn of the eras, part of the grown population moved to the left bank of the Narekvavi, where a large settlement arose on the plain, apparently an aristocratic quarter. The town site was excavated in 1971–82 by the Nastakisi archaeological expedition of the Institute of History, Archaeology and Ethnography for the Mtskheta district (led by Bokhochadze)