About us

The Anthropology group is a descendant of Institute for Anthropology, which was established at the University of Ljubljana already in 1946 by professor Božo Škerlj. The Institute for Anthropology was the first official body in Slovenia, that was professionally involved in research and teaching of physical anthropology; thus it is of no surprise that the research activity of the Institute was very varied.

After the foundation of Biotechnical Faculty of the University of Ljubljana in 1960, the Institute for anthropology became its constitutional part and was renamed into the Cathedra for Anthropology. Professor Zlata Dolinar-Osole became the head of the Cathedra in 1961, and professor Marija Štefančič took over in 1988. Professor Štefančič and assistant professor Tatjana Tomazo-Ravnik successfully conducted teaching and research activities on body composition, growth and development, and analyses of prehistoric and historic populations for over two decades. During that period the Cathedra for Anthropology, later renamed into The Anthropology Group, became a co-founder of Slovene Anthropological Society, which regularly publishes the journal Anthropological Notebooks and organizes the international scientific meetings named Škerlj days.

In 2010 the leadership of The Anthropology Group was confided to the associate professor Petra Golja. The practical, laboratory part of teaching activities is nowadays conducted by the assistant Tatjana Robič, while the whole logistics is maintained by the technical assistant Katja Zdešar Kotnik.

The Anthropology Group performs teaching and research activities in collaboration with international scientists. A more detailed description of activities is provided on respective web pages. The Anthropology Group is part of the Cathedra for Physiology, Anthropology and Ethology of the Department of Biology of the Biotechnical Faculty University of Ljubljana.