Ancient sundial to shed light on Paphlagonia’s history

KASTAMONU

A new research project on a sundial, disocvered in the ancient city of Pompeiopolis in the northern province of Kastamonu, is expected to uncover data on the history of the Paphlagonia region.

The project, titled “In the Footsteps of Time Through a Sundial: A Scientific Historical Analysis and Digital Modeling of the Paphlagonia Region and Pompeiopolis Ancient City,” is being conducted under the leadership of Ömer Fatih Tekin from Kastamonu University’s Department of History of Science. It has been granted support within the scope of the TÜBİTAK-3005 Innovative Solutions Research Projects Support Program in Social Sciences and Humanities.

The study aims to conduct a comprehensive scientific examination of a hemicyclium-type sundial unearthed at the site in 2021. Researchers will analyze its technical structure, astronomical knowledge, engineering features and socio-cultural context.

As studies on ancient sundials in the field of humanities remain limited in Türkiye, the project is considered original and scientifically innovative. Within the scope of the research, the sundial will be digitally remodeled using computer-assisted light and shadow simulations to test its accuracy and will be compared with similar examples.

Founded in 64 B.C. as the capital of the Roman province of Paphlagonia and was one of Anatolia’s largest cities, Pompeiopolis is expected to give new historical data thanks to the project.

Professor Yavuz Unat from the university’s Department of Philosophy said the remains in Taşköprü were first identified as a sundial by archaeologists. “During our research, we determined that it is a bowl-type sundial dating back roughly to the third century B.C. and used during the Roman period,” he said, adding that the team aims to reproduce and display the sundial on the university campus.

Unat emphasized that the project would highlight Kastamonu’s long-standing contribution to scientific culture, from the Roman era to the Ottoman period, and would also support the region’s cultural identity and tourism potential.

Tekin noted that scholars from history of science, geography, archaeology and history departments have formed a multidisciplinary team to digitally reconstruct Pompeiopolis using digital humanities methods. The team plans to scan both the sundial and the ancient city and present the findings on a dedicated website.

Okan Demir from the Department of History said the project would help reassess Paphlagonia’s image, often shaped by dominant powers, by highlighting its own scientific and socio-cultural contributions to world history. The sundial is believed to have been produced between the third and fifth centuries A.D., when the region was under Roman rule.

Faculty member Suat Yazan from the Department of Geography said data gathered during the project would be digitized and analyzed using remote sensing and geographic information systems, while architectural modeling will also form part of the study.

In a written statement, Rector Professor Ahmet Hamdi Topal described the scientific re-examination of the sundial as highly valuable for both the university and the region’s cultural heritage. Researchers from Harran University, Van Yüzüncü Yıl University and Karabük University are also involved in the project.