Studied prehistory and early history, roman provincial archaeology and medieval history, Munich, Saarbrücken and Ljubljana univ.; 1985, PhD, Munich Univ.; postdoctoral qualification. 1985, Assist Professor Munich Univ.; 1990, Second Director, Roman-German Commission, German Archaeological Institute (DAI), Frankfurt/Main; since 1995, Founding Director, DAI Eurasia Dept, Berlin; 2003-08, President, DAI. Since 1996, Honorary Professor of Prehistoric Archaeology, Free Univ. Berlin. Since 2008, President, Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation (SPK). Member of various academies in Russia, China, Spain, Romania and Germany. Recipient of awards and honours.