Pazyryk Rug History

The oldest known pile woven carpet known as the pazyryk carpet dates back to the 5 th century bce according to radiocarbon testing.

Pazyryk rug history.

The pazyryk carpet was excavated in 1949 from the grave of a scythian nobleman in the pazyryk valley of the altai mountains in siberia. One of the mummies discovered called the siberian ice maiden was clothed in a wild silk tunic that likely originated in india. The pazyrk rug had been frozen in the ice and it was very well preserved. Bc now in the hermitage museum in st.

The pazyryk rug was found in 1949 in the grave of a scythian nobleman in the bolshoy ulagan dry valley of the altai mountains in kazakhstan. The pazyryk rug is one of the oldest carpets in the world dating around 5th c. However since the silk cotton and wool used to weave carpets degrade over time archeologists have been unable to find earlier examples. Made sometime in the 5 th century bc this carpet is known as the pazyryk carpet and is the world s oldest carpet.

The pazyryk valley was located between active trade routes spanning the ancient world with china to the east and central asia to the southwest. The fine weaving and elaborate pictorial design indicate a long history of experience in weaving. This carpet is 183 by 200 centimetres 72 by 79 inches and has 36 symmetrical knots per cm 2 232 per inch 2. Experts hypothesize that carpets existed long before the pazyryk carpet.

When it was found it had been deeply frozen in a block of ice which is why it is so well preserved.