The world’s oldest known rug is the Pazyryk from around the 4th to 3rd centuries BC. The cold, icy conditions of the tomb helped preserve it for over 2,500 years, and the floor covering remains in remarkably good condition to this day.
The Pazyryk rug survived due to unusual circumstances. In the Bolshoy Ulagan dry valley of the Altai Mountains in Kazakhstan, looters ransacked the tomb of a Scythian nobleman, leaving it uncovered. This exposed the rug to cold air, which froze and protected it from decay. In 1949, archaeologist Sergei Rudenko discovered the rug and it is now housed in the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Details from Pazyryk Rug, Pazryryk Valley, Siberia, c. 500 BC. pic.twitter.com/bB2Gq4V2Op
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Remarkable craftsmanship and design
The Pazyryk rug’s detailed craftsmanship surprised experts. Unlike other simple floor coverings of its time, this one features intricate patterns and 3,600 symmetrical double knots per square decimeter (232 per square inch), a technique known as the “Ghiordes knot.” The rug is made entirely of wool, including both the pile and the base.
Its design includes a central ribbon pattern and a border decorated with images of deer and warriors riding on horseback. These motifs echo those found in later Turkmen and Seljuq-period rugs, as well as modern Turkish kilims.
Cultural significance and origins
The rug tells the story of the Scythians, a nomadic people renowned for their horse-riding skills, who once ruled regions stretching from Eastern Europe to Western Asia. However, its exact origins remain uncertain, sparking debate among historians.
Some scholars, such as Volkmar Gantzhorn, argue that the artifact may have been produced in ancient Armenia. They note similarities between the horse designs on the particular rug and Armenian depictions at the ruins of Persepolis in Iran.
The Pazyryk people were also highly advanced in metalworking skills, creating exquisitely detailed bronze and iron artifacts. These craft traditions were closely linked to their burial practices, which reveal a strong belief in the afterlife. The elaborate tombs, filled with valuable grave goods, were designed to ensure the comfort and protection of the deceased, reflecting a deep reverence for life beyond death.
The Pazyryk “Ice Maiden”
Dye analysis of the world’s oldest rug leads to controversy
Early studies suggested that the red dye in the rug is from the Armenian cochineal. However, modern research, including findings from the Bard Graduate Center in 1991, concluded the dye likely came from the Polish cochineal or other Porphyrophora species native to Central Asia and Siberia. The debate over the dye source continues among historians and researchers.
Today, the Pazyryk Rug is recognized as a remarkable artifact of ancient craftsmanship and culture. It reminds us of the importance of the preservation and care of cultural products which can be enjoyed for years if properly handled.