Dr. Zvezdana Modrijan is an archaeologist and researcher at the Inštitut of Archaeology ZRC SAZU. Her research focuses on the archaeology of the Late Antique period in the southeastern Alpine region, with particular emphasis on the study of ceramics and on trade connections between the southeastern Alps and the wider territory of the Roman Empire. She also engages in the analysis of settlement patterns in Late Antiquity. She is the chair of the Scientific Council of the Institute of Archaeology and the editor-in-chief of the scientific journal Arheološki vestnik.

Education

• BA in archaeology 1990, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana
• PhD in archaeology 2009, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana

Research interests

• Late Antique settlement of Slovenia and its placement in the settlement structure of the Roman Empire
• Late Antiquity, early christianity (Tonovcov grad)
• Late Antique coarse pottery

Monographs

• CIGLENEČKI, Slavko, Zvezdana MODRIJAN, Tina MILAVEC, Korinjski hrib in poznoantične vojaške utrdbe v Iliriku / Korinjski hrib and late antique military forts in Illyricum. – Opera Instituti Archaeologici Sloveniae 39, 2020.
• Zvezdana MODRIJAN, Tina MILAVEC, Poznoantična utrjena naselbina Tonovcov grad pri Kobaridu. Najdbe / Late Antique fortified settlement Tonovcov grad near Kobarid. Finds. – Opera Instituti Archaeologici Sloveniae 24, 2011.
• CIGLENEČKI, Slavko, Zvezdana MODRIJAN, Tina MILAVEC, Poznoantična utrjena naselbina Tonovcov grad pri Kobaridu. Naselbinski ostanki in interpretacija / Late Antique fortified settlement Tonovcov grad near Kobarid. Settlement remains and interpretation. – Opera Instituti Archaeologici Sloveniae 23, 2011.

Articles

• KOSEL, Janez, MAGDIČ Andrej, MODRIJAN, Zvezdana, ROPRET, Polonca, Dual-format indirect ELISA detection of food residues in late Roman and early medieval ceramics : integrating antibodies and DNA aptamers for ancient protein and ß-D-glucan analysis. Journal of cultural heritage 78, 2026, 35-44, ilustr. ISSN 1296-2074. htps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1296207426000051, DOI: 10.1016/j.culher.2026.01.005.
• Zvezdana MODRIJAN, Carneola? The Settlement Pattern of Western and Central Slovenia in the 6th Century. − In: Lovenjak et al. (eds.), Omnia tempus revelat. Studies on Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages. In Memory of Jaroslav Šašel, Razprave 45, 2025, 323−341; doi: https://doi.org/10.3986/9789612681180_15
• BAVEC Uroš, GUŠTIN Mitja, MODRIJAN Zvezdana, Zavetna zakopa v Pretoriju Latobikov (Trebnje) Two tutelary hoard finds from Praetorium Latobicorum (Trebnje, Slovenia), Arheološki vestnik 75, 245−272. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3986/AV.75.08
• MODRIJAN, Zvezdana, Late Antique coarse pottery from the eastern hinterland of the Caput Adrie. − In: V. Caminneci, E. Giannitrapani, M. C. Parello Maria Concetta, M. S. Rizzo (eds.), LRCW 6: Late Roman Coarse Wares, Cooking Wares and Amphorae in the Mediterranean: Archaeology and Archaeometry, Late Antique Mediterranean pottery 19/2, 2023, 589-596. https://doi.org/10.32028/9781803271484
• CIGLENEČKI, S., Z. MODRIJAN 2020, Bronze chandeliers from Vipota (Slovenia) and the decline of the churches of Celeia. – Hortus Artium Medievalium 26, 141-150.
• MODRIJAN Zvezdana, STRMČNIK GULIČ Mira: Sv. Jurij na Legnu – zgodnjesrednjeveška cerkev in grobišče (Sv. Jurij at Legen (Slovenia) – early medieval church and graveyard). − Arheološki vestnik 71, 2020, 283–319).
• MODRIJAN, Zvezdana. Changes along the Slovenian part of the River Drava (Drau) in the Late Roman period. – In: Auer, Martin (ed.). Roman settlements along the Drava River, (Ager Aguntinus 3), 2019, 81−90.
• MODRIJAN, Zvezdana. Early Christianity in Slovenia : an overview and some new data. – In: Spickermann, Wolfgang (ed.), Grieb, Volker (ed.). Frühes Christentum im Ostalpenraum : Beiträge der Internationalen Tagung "Frühes Christentum im Ostalpenraum" im Graz vom 1. - 3. Juni 2016, (Keryx, 5). Graz, 2018, 157−171.
• MODRIJAN, Zvezdana. New military finds from Ančnikovo gradišče. In: DÖRFLER, Ines (ed.), et al. Ad amussim : Festschrift zum 65. Geburtstag von Franz Glaser, (Kärntner Museumsschriften, Bd. 85). Klagenfurt am Wörthersee: Verlag des Landesmuseums für Kärnten. 2017, str. 159-174, zvd., risbi. [COBISS.SI-ID 42429229]
• MODRIJAN, Zvezdana, NOVŠAK, Matjaž. Lonec z glajenim okrasom iz rimskodobnega vodnjaka v Dobovi = A pot with burnished decoration from a Roman period well near Dobova. Arheološki vestnik, ISSN 0570-8966, 2015, [Št.] 66, str. 23-45, ilustr., zvd. [COBISS.SI-ID 38841901]
• MODRIJAN, Zvezdana (avtor, ilustrator). Imports from the Aegean area to the Eastern Alpine area and Northern Adriatic in late antiquity. Ephemeris napocensis, ISSN 1220-5249, 2014, 24, str. 51-69, zvd., risbe. [COBISS.SI-ID 38090541]
• MODRIJAN, Zvezdana. Amphorae from late antiquity hilltop settlements in Slovenia. V: HEBERT, Bernhard (ur.), HOFER, Nikolaus (ur.). Fachgespräch "Spätantikes Fundmaterial aus dem Südostalpenraum", 7. April 2014, Graz (Steiermark), (Fundberichte aus Österreich, ISSN 2410-9193, Tagungsbände, Bd. 1). Horn: Ferdinand Berger & Söhne, 2015, str. 21-32, risbe, zvd. [COBISS.SI-ID 38782253]

• PROGRAMME: Archaeological research (2022−2027) (research programme • January 1, 2022 - December 31, 2027)
• PROGRAMME: Archaeological research (2015−2021) (research programme • January 1, 2015 - December 31, 2021)
• Carnium and Carneola. The central settlement and its surroundings between antiquity and the Middle Ages (October 1, 2023 - September 30, 2026)
• IRSCHEN: Interdisciplinary Resilience through Science and Cultural Heritage Education Network (April 1, 2021 - March 31, 2023)
• Poetovio - from legionary fortress to autonomous town (October 1, 2022 - September 30, 2025)
• At the contact between the Alps and Mediterranean – continuity and turning points (July 1, 2019 - June 30, 2022)
• Colonia Ulpia Traiana Poetovio - genesis and evolution of the town (July 1, 2019 - June 30, 2022)
• Settlement of the south-eastern Alpine region in the Early Middle Ages (November 1, 2018 - October 31, 2022)
• Sanctuaries (July 1, 2014 - February 28, 2018)
• CAMAA (January 15, 2013 - January 14, 2015)
• The roman coarse pottery database as a basis for an analysis of the Late Antique settlement pattern in Slovenia (May 1, 2009 - April 30, 2012)
• Information system of Archaeological Heritage of Slovenia (January 1, 2007 - December 31, 2009)
• Archaeological and palynological resaerch in the Ljubljansko barje (research project • July 1, 2004 - June 30, 2007)

• 2012: Žiga Zois Award (with S. Ciglenečki and T. Milavec) for an important scientific achievement in archeology for a two-part scientific monograph Late Antique fortified settlement Tonovcov grad near Kobarid

• Editor-in-Chief of the Arheološki vestnik