Kastamonu University's project titled "Tracing Time Thru Sundials: An Analysis and Digital Modeling of the Paphlagonia Region and the Ancient City of Pompeiopolis from the Perspective of Science History," prepared under the leadership of Dr. Ömer Fatih Tekin from the Department of History of Science, Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, within the scope of the TÜBİTAK – 3005 Innovative Solutions Research Projects Support Program in Social and Human Sciences, has been awarded support. 

This study aims to comprehensively examine the hemicyclium-type sundial discovered in 2021 in the ancient city of Pompeiopolis from a scientific history perspective.

The project will analyze the technical structure of the sundial, its astronomical knowledge, engineering properties, and socio-cultural context using interdisciplinary methods. The fact that research on ancient sundials in Turkey in the humanities is quite limited places this project in a unique and scientifically novel position. 

As part of the project, the sundial will be remodeled using computer-aided light-shadow simulations to test its accuracy; a comparative analysis will be conducted with similar examples. 

The project involves expert researchers from various universities, including our own. In the project, which is being carried out by Assist. Prof. Dr. Ömer Fatih Tekin, researchers from our university, including Prof. Dr. Yavuz Unat, Assistant. Prof. Dr. Tuba Uymaz, Assist.Prof.Dr. Sinem Demir, Assist. Prof. Dr. Okan Demir, Assist.Prof.Dr. Suat Yazan, Lecturer, Samet Doğan, and Res. Assist.Dr. Göknur Çetinkaya, from Harran University, Assist. Prof. Dr. Buğra Kara, from Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, Assist. Prof. Dr. Elif Ela Erberk, and from Karabük University, Associate Professor Dr. Mevlüt Eliüşük. 

Our Rector, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Hamdi Topal, made the following remarks in his evaluation of the project:

We are pleased that this study, which contributes to the scientific activities of our university, has been supported by TÜBİTAK. The reinterpretation of the sundial discovered in the ancient city of Pompeiopolis from a scientific history perspective will also make valuable contributions to the region's cultural heritage. I would like to thank the entire research team, especially the project leader, Dr. Ömer Fatih Tekin, for their efforts, and wish them success in their work. 

Our Rector also expressed gratitude to YÖK President Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar and YÖK members for their support of quality research in higher education, as well as to TÜBİTAK President Prof. Dr. Orhan Aydın for their encouragement of university projects.