Richard, From Marshall Clagett's "Ancient Egyptian Science" Vol. 2, earliest extant Egyptian shadow clock(Cairo Museum, time from length of shadow) is 1479-1425 BC. Earliest extant (vertical disk) sundial (from Gezer in Palestine) is 1224-1214 BC.
I don't know dates for Babylonian dials. The Karnak water clock is earlier: 1391-1353 BC, description of similar clock from 1525-1504 BC. Star positions were used for nighttime hours by the 24th century BC, evolving into star clocks by 2150 BC (tables of constellations for each hour and week). Gordon Uber San Diego, California At 11:41 AM 5/30/2008, Richard Mallett wrote: >When I was buying the set of cigarette cards issued in 1928 by W.D. and >H.O. Wills of Old Sundials, my dealer asked me what was the oldest >sundial in the world ? I guessed Greek or Roman, but didn't really >know; so input from the experts on this list would be welcomed. > >-- >Richard Mallett >Eaton Bray, Dunstable >South Beds. UK --------------------------------------------------- https://lists.uni-koeln.de/mailman/listinfo/sundial
