Department of Archaeology

Asst. Prof. Dr. Tjaša Tolar

BASIC DATA:

Name and surname: Tjaša Tolar

Date and place of birth: 30. 12. 1977, Ljubljana

Address: Visoko 112, 1292 Ig, Slovenia

Employment: ZRC SAZU, Institute of Archeology, Novi trg 2, 1001 Ljubljana

E-mail: tjasa.tolar@zrc-sazu.si

Telephone: +386(0)1 4706 456; lab. + 386(0)1 3207 365

Personal website:  https://iza2.zrc-sazu.si/en/sodelavci/tjasa-tolar-en#v

 

Education:

2004 (B. Sc.): University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Biology

2011 (Ph. D.): University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Biology

2015 (Research fellow): Scientific Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts

2018 (Assistant Professor; Docent Ph. D.): University of Ljubljana

 

Fellowship abroad:

2006 − 2007:  Institut für Prähistorische und Naturwissenschaftliche Archäologie (IPNA) Universität Basel, CH

2014: Naktuinbouw and Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, the Netherlands

 

EMPLOYMENT:

2005 (till 31. 10. 2005): Professor of Biology, Gymnasium Poljane, Ljubljana

2005 (from 1. 11. 2005): Scientific Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts (ZRC SAZU), Institute of Archaeology

 

Research interests:

Archaeobotany: study of plant macroremains (seeds, fruits, wood, charcoal) from archaeological sites of Slovenia. Research includes sampling in the field, preparation of samples in the laboratory, identification of plant residues and interpretation of the plant economy (agriculture), plant nutrition, animal husbandry, environmental plants and consequently, past vegetation and climatic conditions. The research results often find a common path with other natural sciences in archeology, such as palynology, archaeozoology, genetics, micromorphology, as well as pedological and chemical analyses.

 

ABILITY FOR ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT:

2005 – 2010: Establishment and management of the archaeobotanical laboratory at the Institute of Archeology ZRC SAZU (a reference collection of recent and archaeological seeds, fruits, wood, charcoal, winter buds and branches and wood-anatomical slices), equipment for washing over the waterlogged sediment samples, stereomicroscope Leica with up to 50x magnification, refrigerator and other laboratory equipment (measuring pots, pincers, separation boxes, chemicals for storing wet finds, etc.).

2017 - 2018: Planning, management and re-establishment of new archaeobotanical laboratory to a new location (Research Station Barje ZRC at Ig), which includes also a larger cold store for storing waterlogged archaeological samples and palynological cores.

2017 -: mentoring of a graduate student of archeology. Title of the diploma paper: "Comparison of two different sampling methods in archaeobotany from the area of Roman cemetery at Gosposvetska Street in Ljubljana".

2011 -: Independent management and organization of archaeobotanical researches within the projects and programs of the Institute of Archeology ZRC SAZU and other Slovenian research Institutions (see below).

 

RESEARCH PROJECTS:

2005 - 2007: Reconstruction of palaeoenvironment with the help of analysis of plant and animal macrofossils in the cultural layers of Slovenian archaeological sites, BI-RU / 05-07-012 (M. Andrič, A. Golyeva)

2005-2011: young researcher of the Institute of Archeology at the ZRC SAZU in cooperation with the Biotechnical Faculty of the University of Ljubljana

2011 - 2014: Prehistoric pile-dwellings at Ljubljansko barje, Slovenia: Chronology, culture and palaeoenvironment, Slovenian Research Agency, L6-4157 (A. Velušček)

2013 - 2015: Centro per le Architetture Militari del'Alto Adriatico (CAMAA). European Territorial Cooperation, cross-border co-operation program Slovenia - Italy (B. Štular)

2014 - 2017: Vegetation and hydrology of the Ljubljansko barje once, today and tomorrow - a consequence of succession, human influence or climate fluctuations? Slovenian Research Agency, J7-6857 (M. Andrič)

2014 - 2018: Iron Age settlement at Most na Soči - the beginnings of urbanism in the southeastern Alps. Slovenian Research Agency, J7-6835 (S. Tecco Hvala)

2017 - 2020: Objects and landscapes. Structure of Inner Iron Age Communities. Slovenian Research Agency, J6 - 8251 (B. Laharnar, B. Štular)

2019 - 2022: 5000 Years of Grazing and Mining in the Julian Alps: study of lake sediments, anthropogenically transformed landscapes and archaeological sites, and reconstruction of climate and human impact on the environment

 

COOPERATION WITH OTHER RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS:

2005 -: University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Wood Science and Technology (Prof. Dr. Katarina Čufar)

2006 -:  Basel University, Institut für Prähistorische und Naturwissenschaftliche Archäologie (Prof. Dr. Stefanie Jacomet)

2015 -:  Free University of Berlin, Department of History and Cultural Studies (Dr. Sabine Karg)

2016 -:  University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering (Dr. Klara Kostajnšek)

2016: Naturhistorisches Museum Wien, Prähistorische Abteilung (Dr. Karina Grömer)

2017 - : Kiel University, Institute for Pre- and Protohistory - Millet C14 dating program (Dr. Dragana Filipović)

2017 -:  Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana (Dr. Irena Vovk and dr. Vesna Glavnik)

2018 -: Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften (ÖAW), Vienna (Dr. Alfred Galik)

2019 -: University of Bourgogne Franche-Comte, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, CNRS UMR Chrono-environment, Besançon (dr. Matthieu Le Bailly)

 

ORIGINAL SCIENTIFIC PAPERS AND MONOGRAPHS:

TOLAR, Tjaša, ČUFAR, Katarina, VELUŠČEK, Anton. 2008. The wooden handle of a stone hammer-axe from the Eneolithic pile-dwelling settlement Stare gmajne near Verd in the Ljubljansko barje, Slovenia. Arheološki vestnik, 59: 49-56.

TOLAR, Tjaša, JAKŠE, Jernej, KOROŠEC-KORUZA, Zora. 2008. The oldest macroremains of Vitis from Slovenia. Vegetation history and archaeobotany, 17/1: S93-S102.

ČUFAR, Katarina, VELUŠČEK, Anton, TOLAR, Tjaša, KROMER, Bernd. 2009. Dendrochronological research at the pile-dwelling settlements Stare gmajne and Blatna Brezovica. In: VELUŠČEK, A. (ed.). Stare gmajne pile-dwelling settlement and its era : the Ljubljansko barje in the 2nd half of the 4th millennium BC. Opera Instituti archaeologici Sloveniae, 16: 177-195.

TOLAR, Tjaša, VELUŠČEK, Anton. 2009. Discovery of flax (Linum usitatissimum) at Ljubljansko barje, Slovenia. Histria antiqua, 18/1: 187-194.

TOLAR, Tjaša, ZUPANČIČ, Martin. 2009. Newly discovered wooden finds from Stare gmajne near Verd. In: VELUŠČEK, A. (ed.). Stare gmajne pile-dwelling settlement and its era : the Ljubljansko barje in the 2nd half of the 4th millennium BC. Opera Instituti archaeologici Sloveniae, 16: 235-243.

GASPARI, Andrej, ČUFAR, Katarina, ERIČ, Miran, TOLAR, Tjaša. 2009. Preliminary archaeological and dendrochronological researches at the pile-dwelling settlement Veliki Otavnik Ib near Bistra. In: VELUŠČEK, A. (ed.). Stare gmajne pile-dwelling settlement and its era : the Ljubljansko barje in the 2nd half of the 4th millennium BC. Opera Instituti archaeologici Sloveniae, 16: 167-175.

PAJAGIČ BREGAR, Gojka, VELUŠČEK, Anton, TOLAR, Tjaša, STRLIČ, Matija, BUKOŠEK, Vili, KOLAR, Jana, RAVBAR, Igor. 2009. Analysis and conservation of the Ljubljansko barje yarn. In: VELUŠČEK, A. (ed.). Stare gmajne pile-dwelling settlement and its era : the Ljubljansko barje in the 2nd half of the 4th millennium BC. Opera Instituti archaeologici Sloveniae, 16: 309-318.

ČUFAR, Katarina, KROMER, Bernd, TOLAR, Tjaša, VELUŠČEK, Anton. 2010. Dating of 4th millennium BC pile-dwellings on Ljubljansko barje, Slovenia. Journal of archaeological science, 37/8: 2031-2039.

TOLAR, Tjaša, JACOMET, Stefanie, VELUŠČEK, Anton, ČUFAR, Katarina. 2010. Recovery techniques for waterlogged archaeological sediments : a comparison of different treatment methods for samples from Neolithic lake shore settlements. Vegetation history and archaeobotany, 19/1: 53-67.

TOLAR, Tjaša, JACOMET, Stefanie, VELUŠČEK, Anton, ČUFAR, Katarina. 2011. Plant economy at a late Neolithic lake dwelling site in Slovenia at the time of the Alpine Iceman. Vegetation history and archaeobotany, 20/3: 207-222.

TOLAR, Tjaša, JACOMET, Stefanie, VELUŠČEK, Anton. 2016. Cereal chaff used as temper in loom-weights : new evidence from a Slovenian Eneolithic pile-dwelling site (ca. 3100 cal BC). Vegetation history and archaeobotany, 25/3: 291-301.

TOLAR, Tjaša, VELUŠČEK, Anton. 2016. Comparing different sampling methods in order to reconstruct plant economies at the eneolithic lake dwelling site Stare gmajne, Slovenia. Documenta Praehistorica, 43: 413-420.

HORVAT, Jana, PETERLE UDOVIČ, Pavla, TOLAR, Tjaša, TOŠKAN, Borut. 2016. The port area of Nauportus. Arheološki vestnik, 67: 177-258.

ANDRIČ, Maja, TOLAR, Tjaša, TOŠKAN, Borut. 2016. Okoljska arheologija in paleoekologija: palinologija, arheobotanika in arheozoologija, Ljubljana, Založba ZRC.

ANDRIČ, Maja., VERBIČ, Tomaž, LOMAX, Johanna, TOLAR, Tjaša. 2017. Enbankment of the Ljubljenica River at Špica (Ljubljana) and human impact on the environment in late prehistory. Arheološki vestnik 68: 476-498.

TOLAR, Tjaša. 2017. Botanical macroremains from the cemeteries at Molnik. In: TECCO HVALA, S. (ed.). The iron age site at Molnik near Ljubljana. Opera Instituti archaeologici Sloveniae, 36: 205-210.

GRÖMER, Karina, TOLAR, Tjaša, KOSTAJNŠEK, Klara. 2017. Textile and fur remains in Grave 6, Tumulus 1, from Pleška hosta at Molnik. In: TECCO HVALA, S.(ed.). The iron age site at Molnik near Ljubljana. Opera Instituti archaeologici Sloveniae, 36: 211-219.

TOLAR, Tjaša. 2018. Edible plant remains from Houses 6 and 15A at Most na Soči. In: DULAR, J. and TECCO HVALA, S. (eds). The Iron Age settlement at Most na Soči, Treatises.  Opera Instituti archaeologici Sloveniae, 34: 445-452.

GRÖMER, Karina, KOSTAJNŠEK, Klara, TOLAR, Tjaša, PAJAGIČ BREGAR, Gojka. 2018. Textile find from the Iron Age settlement at Most na Soči : conservation, analysis and comparisons. In: DULAR, J. and TECCO HVALA, S. (eds.). The Iron Age settlement at Most na Soči, Treatises. Opera Instituti archaeologici Sloveniae, 34: 453-465.

VELUŠČEK, Anton, PODPEČAN, Blaž, TOLAR, Tjaša, TOŠKAN, Borut, TURK, Janez, MERELA, Maks, ČUFAR, Katarina. 2018. Črnelnik and Devce, newly discovered Copper Age sites at Ljubljansko barje. Arheološki vestnik, 69: 9-68.

TOLAR, Tjaša. 2018. Comparison of different sampling and treatment methods in order to reconstruct plant economies at the Eneolithic pile-dwellings of Strojanova voda and Maharski prekop at Ljubljansko barje. Arheološki vestnik, 69: 461-498.

VELUŠČEK, Anton, TOLAR, Tjaša. 2018. A superb product of a spinning spindle. In: OITZL, Gašper (ed.), et al. The past under the microscope : scientific analyses in museums. Ljubljana: National Museum of Slovenia: 77-81.

TOLAR, Tjaša, GALIK, Alfred. 2019. A study of dog coprolite from Late Neolithic pile-dwelling site in Slovenia. Archaeological discovery, 7/1: 20-29.

TOLAR, Tjaša, VOVK,  Irena, JUG, Urška (in preparation). Selective use of Cornus sanguinea L. (dogwood) fruits or fruitstones in the Late Neolithic. Vegetation History and archaeobotany.

ORIGINAL SCIENTIFIC PAPERS AND MONOGRAPHS:

TOLAR, Tjaša, ČUFAR, Katarina, VELUŠČEK, Anton. 2008. The wooden handle of a stone hammer-axe from the Eneolithic pile-dwelling settlement Stare gmajne near Verd in the Ljubljansko barje, Slovenia. Arheološki vestnik, 59: 49-56.

TOLAR, Tjaša, JAKŠE, Jernej, KOROŠEC-KORUZA, Zora. 2008. The oldest macroremains of Vitis from Slovenia. Vegetation history and archaeobotany, 17/1: S93-S102.

ČUFAR, Katarina, VELUŠČEK, Anton, TOLAR, Tjaša, KROMER, Bernd. 2009. Dendrochronological research at the pile-dwelling settlements Stare gmajne and Blatna Brezovica. In: VELUŠČEK, A. (ed.). Stare gmajne pile-dwelling settlement and its era : the Ljubljansko barje in the 2nd half of the 4th millennium BC. Opera Instituti archaeologici Sloveniae, 16: 177-195.

TOLAR, Tjaša, VELUŠČEK, Anton. 2009. Discovery of flax (Linum usitatissimum) at Ljubljansko barje, Slovenia. Histria antiqua, 18/1: 187-194.

TOLAR, Tjaša, ZUPANČIČ, Martin. 2009. Newly discovered wooden finds from Stare gmajne near Verd. In: VELUŠČEK, A. (ed.). Stare gmajne pile-dwelling settlement and its era : the Ljubljansko barje in the 2nd half of the 4th millennium BC. Opera Instituti archaeologici Sloveniae, 16: 235-243.

GASPARI, Andrej, ČUFAR, Katarina, ERIČ, Miran, TOLAR, Tjaša. 2009. Preliminary archaeological and dendrochronological researches at the pile-dwelling settlement Veliki Otavnik Ib near Bistra. In: VELUŠČEK, A. (ed.). Stare gmajne pile-dwelling settlement and its era : the Ljubljansko barje in the 2nd half of the 4th millennium BC. Opera Instituti archaeologici Sloveniae, 16: 167-175.

PAJAGIČ BREGAR, Gojka, VELUŠČEK, Anton, TOLAR, Tjaša, STRLIČ, Matija, BUKOŠEK, Vili, KOLAR, Jana, RAVBAR, Igor. 2009. Analysis and conservation of the Ljubljansko barje yarn. In: VELUŠČEK, A. (ed.). Stare gmajne pile-dwelling settlement and its era : the Ljubljansko barje in the 2nd half of the 4th millennium BC. Opera Instituti archaeologici Sloveniae, 16: 309-318.

ČUFAR, Katarina, KROMER, Bernd, TOLAR, Tjaša, VELUŠČEK, Anton. 2010. Dating of 4th millennium BC pile-dwellings on Ljubljansko barje, Slovenia. Journal of archaeological science, 37/8: 2031-2039.

TOLAR, Tjaša, JACOMET, Stefanie, VELUŠČEK, Anton, ČUFAR, Katarina. 2010. Recovery techniques for waterlogged archaeological sediments : a comparison of different treatment methods for samples from Neolithic lake shore settlements. Vegetation history and archaeobotany, 19/1: 53-67.

TOLAR, Tjaša, JACOMET, Stefanie, VELUŠČEK, Anton, ČUFAR, Katarina. 2011. Plant economy at a late Neolithic lake dwelling site in Slovenia at the time of the Alpine Iceman. Vegetation history and archaeobotany, 20/3: 207-222.

TOLAR, Tjaša, JACOMET, Stefanie, VELUŠČEK, Anton. 2016. Cereal chaff used as temper in loom-weights : new evidence from a Slovenian Eneolithic pile-dwelling site (ca. 3100 cal BC). Vegetation history and archaeobotany, 25/3: 291-301.

TOLAR, Tjaša, VELUŠČEK, Anton. 2016. Comparing different sampling methods in order to reconstruct plant economies at the eneolithic lake dwelling site Stare gmajne, Slovenia. Documenta Praehistorica, 43: 413-420.

HORVAT, Jana, PETERLE UDOVIČ, Pavla, TOLAR, Tjaša, TOŠKAN, Borut. 2016. The port area of Nauportus. Arheološki vestnik, 67: 177-258.

ANDRIČ, Maja, TOLAR, Tjaša, TOŠKAN, Borut. 2016. Okoljska arheologija in paleoekologija: palinologija, arheobotanika in arheozoologija, Ljubljana, Založba ZRC.

ANDRIČ, Maja., VERBIČ, Tomaž, LOMAX, Johanna, TOLAR, Tjaša. 2017. Enbankment of the Ljubljenica River at Špica (Ljubljana) and human impact on the environment in late prehistory. Arheološki vestnik 68: 476-498.

TOLAR, Tjaša. 2017. Botanical macroremains from the cemeteries at Molnik. In: TECCO HVALA, S. (ed.). The iron age site at Molnik near Ljubljana. Opera Instituti archaeologici Sloveniae, 36: 205-210.

GRÖMER, Karina, TOLAR, Tjaša, KOSTAJNŠEK, Klara. 2017. Textile and fur remains in Grave 6, Tumulus 1, from Pleška hosta at Molnik. In: TECCO HVALA, S.(ed.). The iron age site at Molnik near Ljubljana. Opera Instituti archaeologici Sloveniae, 36: 211-219.

TOLAR, Tjaša. 2018. Edible plant remains from Houses 6 and 15A at Most na Soči. In: DULAR, J. and TECCO HVALA, S. (eds). The Iron Age settlement at Most na Soči, Treatises.  Opera Instituti archaeologici Sloveniae, 34: 445-452.

GRÖMER, Karina, KOSTAJNŠEK, Klara, TOLAR, Tjaša, PAJAGIČ BREGAR, Gojka. 2018. Textile find from the Iron Age settlement at Most na Soči : conservation, analysis and comparisons. In: DULAR, J. and TECCO HVALA, S. (eds.). The Iron Age settlement at Most na Soči, Treatises. Opera Instituti archaeologici Sloveniae, 34: 453-465.

VELUŠČEK, Anton, PODPEČAN, Blaž, TOLAR, Tjaša, TOŠKAN, Borut, TURK, Janez, MERELA, Maks, ČUFAR, Katarina. 2018. Črnelnik and Devce, newly discovered Copper Age sites at Ljubljansko barje. Arheološki vestnik, 69: 9-68.

TOLAR, Tjaša. 2018. Comparison of different sampling and treatment methods in order to reconstruct plant economies at the Eneolithic pile-dwellings of Strojanova voda and Maharski prekop at Ljubljansko barje. Arheološki vestnik, 69: 461-498.

VELUŠČEK, Anton, TOLAR, Tjaša. 2018. A superb product of a spinning spindle. In: OITZL, Gašper (ed.), et al. The past under the microscope : scientific analyses in museums. Ljubljana: National Museum of Slovenia: 77-81.

TOLAR, Tjaša, GALIK, Alfred. 2019. A study of dog coprolite from Late Neolithic pile-dwelling site in Slovenia. Archaeological discovery, 7/1: 20-29.

TOLAR, Tjaša, VOVK,  Irena, JUG, Urška (in preparation). Selective use of Cornus sanguinea L. (dogwood) fruits or fruitstones in the Late Neolithic. Vegetation History and archaeobotany.

Compulsory Courses

Elective Courses

Events

09. 11. - 11. 11. 2023
Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Arts

26th Neolithic Seminar 'Eurasian Neolithics: How Cultures and Societies Evolve and Why It Matters'

27. 02. 2023
Faculty of Arts

Online presentation of University of Ljubljana for prospective international students

13. 10. 2022
Administrative Office for Doctoral Study, Faculty of Arts

EUTOPIA Citizen Science Clinics

15. 09. 2022
Administrative Office for Undergraduate Study Programme, Faculty of Arts

Reception for International Students at the Faculty of Arts and at the University of Ljubljana (two separate events)

22. 02. 2022
Faculty of Arts

Online sessions for prospective international students, 22 February 2022 at 1.15 pm (CET)