Benac studied classical philology and archaeology in Belgrade's Philosophy Faculty (1937), and received his doctorate from Ljubljana University (1951).

He then left to assume a professorship in archaeology and ancient history in the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Sarajevo[3] (1968–78).

He later became the founder and first Director of the Centre for Balkan Studies,[4] within the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina (ANUBiH),[5] of which he was General Secretary from 1971 to 1977 and President from 1977 to 1981.

[6][7] Benac focused his research on prehistory within the Western Balkans,[8] and undertook numerous systematic archaeological excavations on sites including Arnautovići (Visoko), Crvena Stijena[9] (Montenegro), Hrustovača in Hrustovo (Sanski Most), Obre I and II[10] (Kakanj), Zecovi (Prijedor), Zelena Pećina[11] in Blagaj (Mostar) and others.

He became Chief Editor of the five-volume series "Praistorija jugoslavenskih zemlja"[12][13] (Prehistory of the Yugoslavian countries) (1979–86), as well as several books and articles, including the following: • Obre II – neolitsko naselje butmirske grupe na Gornjem polju (Obre II – A Neolithic Settlement of the Butmir Group on the Gornje plain) (1971) • Prehistorijsko naselje Nebo i problem butmirske kulture (The prehistoric settlement of Nebo and the problem of the Butmir Culture) (1952) • Glasinac Vols I & II (1957; 1959) • Studien zur Stein und Kupferzeit im nordwestlichen Balkan (Studies on stone and copper age in north-western Balkans) (1962) In 1967, Benac was inducted as a regular member of ANUBiH.