Pazyryk Rug

The Pazyryk carpet (200 x 183 cm.) knotted entirely in wool is the oldest in the world from the 6th to the 4th centuries BC.

It was found by Russian archaeologist Sergei Ivanovich Rudenko in Kurgan 5 (the tombs of the tribal chiefs of the Scythia region, in the Altai mountain range, meridian Siberia, are called Kurgan.

It is currently preserved in the museum of L’Ermitage in St. Petersburg.

This carpet was saved by chance because after the burial of the tribal chief, his tomb was looted, which caused the filtration of a large amount of water that froze inside the mortuary chamber without ever changing its state again, so that the objects it contained were kept in a perfect state of preservation.

The carpet is decorated with geometric, floral and animal motifs (a procession of 28 horses, some with riders and others accompanied by assistants walking beside them.)

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