Alojz Benac

World class archaeologist and historian. Born in Derventa, Benac studied classical philology and archaeology in Belgrade's Philosophy Faculty, and received his doctorate from Ljubljana University. He worked in the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1947 to 1967 and then became a professor of archaeology and ancient history at the University of Sarajevo. He later became the founder and first Director of the Centre for Balkan Studies, within the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina, of which he was General Secretary & President. He also taught prehistory of the Balkans at the University of Münster. He excavated a number of important archeological sites in the region and thus significantly contributed to the elucidation of prehistoric times in BiH. His contributions to better understanding Stećci is widely recognised as ground-breaking.