He worked in the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1947 to 1967 (in the role of Director from 1957 to 1967). He then left to assume a professorship in archaeology and ancient history in the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Sarajevo (1968–78). 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 (ANUBiH), of which he was General Secretary from 1971 to 1977 and President from 1977 to 1981