Ivana Pandžić
Ivana Pandžić’s path into the world of archaeology began with serious steps during her studies in Greece. As a scholarship holder of the Greek government, she graduated in archaeology and art history from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. These roots shaped not only her academic expertise but also her linguistic versatility; Ivana is a certified court interpreter for the Greek language and is fluent in English and German.
After graduating in Athens, Ivana continued her academic development in Belgrade, where she earned her master’s degree in 2010 on the cultural connections of the Neolithic period in Bosnia and Herzegovina with neighbouring regions. Her research journey then led her to Ljubljana, where in 2020 she defended her doctoral dissertation on the exploitation of salt during the Neolithic period in Bosnia and Herzegovina, under the mentorship of the distinguished Professor Mihael Budja. The pinnacle of her academic path is her postdoctoral stay in the United States (2024–2025) within the prestigious Fulbright Program, at Middle Tennessee State University.
Her working day is rarely monotonous. Since 2006, she has been permanently employed at the Museum of the Republic of Srpska as a curator archaeologist (today museum advisor) for the Stone Age period. At the same time, Ivana is an associate professor at the Faculty of Philosophy in Banja Luka, where she introduces students to museology, archaeology, and interactive heritage. The field is where she feels at home, where theory turns into reality. Ivana has led or participated in numerous local, regional, and international research projects, from the Rastuša Cave to systematic excavations at the Kastel Fortress in Banja Luka. A particularly notable project is “Vrbaski mač u kamenu” (“The Vrbas Sword in Stone”), where she participated in the underwater recovery of a medieval sword from the Vrbas River.
As an active member of international organisations (ICOM, the European Association of Archaeologists), Ivana tirelessly works on connecting domestic science with the world. She is the founder of the Archaeological Society of the Republic of Srpska and the author of numerous exhibitions that both educate and engage the public, such as the popular “Unlock the World of Illusion and Science”, as well as a participant in international projects.
Today, Ivana Pandžić lives and works in Banja Luka, balancing scientific writing, teaching, and a constant search for new answers hidden in the earth, with a clear vision that archaeology must not remain trapped in dust, but should communicate through modern media and be accessible to everyone.