The art of weaving Oriental rugs can be dated back as far as 5th century BC. In 1949 Scythian Chieftain burial chamber was unearthed in Altai Mountains in Siberia the Russian archaeologist Sergei Rudenko discovered the carpet. The carpet was frozen in a bed of ice; because of this the carpet was in good condition. Carbon dating was used to date the carpet, which is said to be 2,500 years old. The carpet measured at 6’7”x6’ is was hand knotted with a symmetrical knot motif called the Ghiordes (Turkish) knot, which amazingly is still used today. The design illustrated that Scythian people made it. The carpet is known as the “Pazyryk” carpet, because it was discovered in Pazyryk Valley. This is the oldest known surviving carpet. The carpet is said be at the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia.

In China, carpet making has been dated back to the period of the Sung Dynasty, which is takes place during 960 to 1279 AD. The Chinese produced rugs in factory workshops controlled by the emperors. The designs of the rugs produced were characteristic of Buddhism and Taoism religion.
Marco Polo was said to be an admirer of Chinese rugs, he was known to have discovered the earliest examples of rugs through his travels in China and Turkey during the 13th century.

On a side note many researchers have found references to rug weaving in ancient scriptures and some classical writing. By finding these references it has helped researchers put a timeline together. The timeline illustrate the history of rugs, which includes certain rug making methods and materials. These timelines show that flat weaving was developed more than 4,000 years ago, after finding fragments in Mesopotamian and Egyptian tombs. Weaving of pile rugs was shown to be present in the Middle East, and parts of Asia long before 2,000 BC.
Although it has been said that the Mongolians were the first to weave pile rugs, it was the Persians who took the craft of pile weaving to a whole other level!