A History of Rugs

Mankind has always sought comfort, in the form of shelter and a soft place to rest. While no one knows precisely how and when floor coverings came into being, ancient rug making tools have been excavated at archeological sites throughout the Middle East. Hand-made carpets have a rich history which can be dated back 2500 years, as an already well-developed craft and art form.

The oldest known rug was found in 1949, in Siberia's Altai Mountains. Dating to the 5th Century B.C. the Pazyryk carpet was found frozen inside a burial mound, and is currently displayed in St. Petersburg, Russia at the Hermitage Museum.

Experts suggest that the Pazyryk carpet was woven in the Caucasus (where the countries of present-day Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia intersect). Some note the similarity in the woven motifs to architectural motifs found at Persepolis, the ancient capital of Persia, and conclude the rug may have been crafted there. The basic technique of knotting and compacting wool is still in use today.

Early rugs were likely to have been made out of necessity, for warm flooring and insulation in tents, by people utilizing the raw materials, at hand. This points to a nomadic, people; herders, in need of shelter which could be easily transported on horseback.

With both horses, and sheep's wool being indispensable commodities to the ancient Turks, this connection is widely regarded as having a great role in carpet production and distribution. The hand-crafted masterpieces, and the techniques for producing them, eventually found their way into the world, spreading far and wide.

Throughout history, the various peoples of Europe and Asia have refined their mastery of textile art, infusing their particular cultural themes and motifs, passing on a legacy as rich as any other art form. Persian and Oriental designs, having been produced for centuries, are still some of the most popular styles today.

With the development of synthetic materials, and natural blends, rugs are now available to fit any budget, decor or lifestyle.