What does primitive as a sundial mean?

"Primitive as a sundial" refers to something that is basic, rudimentary, or lacking in sophistication, much like an early or simple sundial used for telling time. Sundials, which rely on the position of the sun's shadow cast by a gnomon (the part that casts the shadow), represent one of the earliest forms of timekeeping. The phrase suggests a straightforward, perhaps outdated method of measuring or understanding something, highlighting its simplicity or lack of modern complexity.