September the 5th, 2026 – Cape Škamica is a very isolated point, and a long-forgotten sundial from this southern part of the island of Pag has been saved.
On the solitary Cape Škamica on the southern part of the island of Pag, an unusual stone monument – a historic sundial – has been saved from decay. Ana Zunic reports for Morski that following years of exposure to the harsh bura wind, salt and the blows of the jugo, the object that bears witness to past times has been successfully reconstructed. Despite the restoration, it still keeps its greatest secret to itself, and that is that no one knows with certainty who built it and exactly when.
Archaeological research in Zadar and Split has so far offered no concrete written traces or plans. Local tradition attributes the construction to Jure Komadina from Vlašići, citing the similarity of the building technique with a nearby village well, while another theory places the origin of the structure in the era of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy.
fishermen and shepherds knew it well
Although historical documents are lacking, testimonies of older locals confirm that the sundial truly served its purpose. Roman numerals were once carved into it and an iron pin was fitted that cast a shadow to indicate the time. Located on an important maritime corridor – with a view of the Pag Bridge, Velebit and the islets of Mali and Veliki Sikavac, the sundial served for centuries as a key landmark for shepherds from Vlašići and Smokvica and fishermen from Vrsi. Before the recent intervention the structure was in extremely poor condition, without binding material and with significantly damaged plaster. The comprehensive restoration was financially supported by the City of Pag and the Municipality of Vrsi, with the involvement of the association “Volim Vlašići”, experts Šime Stojak and Šime Glavan, and the contractor Travej d.o.o. The archaeological survey and documentation were prepared by archaeologists Neda and Igor Kulenović, under the conservator supervision of Ivan Matković.
both roman and arabic numerals are on the sundial
During the reconstruction the damaged stone blocks were replaced, and both Roman numerals (for winter time reckoning) and Arabic numerals (for summer time reckoning) were precisely carved into the new plaster, along with half-hour markings. The entire construction was finally protected with a special impregnation. The initiative launched back in 2020 has thus finally reached its conclusion, but the work is not finished. Although the monument has been saved, it still does not have formal status as a cultural asset, which is why the initiators will submit a proposal to the City of Pag for its protection and entry into the Register of Cultural Assets of the Republic of Croatia.
The site has already become part of the Pag Outdoor tourist offer; an approximately four-kilometre-long hiking trail leads to it from the direction of Vlašići and Smokvica. Plans also include the installation of an information board that will acquaint visitors with the history, restoration and the mystery that still surrounds this stone monument on Cape Škamica.
