The Pazyryk rug is one of the oldest carpets in the world. In 1949, Professor Rudenko began an excavation in Pazyryk (in the Altai Mountains in Kazakhstan). Amidst the frozen tombs, he discovered a piece of pile rug. This rug, which was thought to be the oldest pile-knotted rug, was woven probably at least five centuries BC. The size of the rug is 200 x 183 cm. In the center, there are a few rows of stars with four points, which relates it to various objects excavated in Lorestan (east of Persia).

According to historical references and similarities of design woven into this rug, which resemble those seen in Persepolis, one can relate the weaving to the Achaemenian dynasty. At present this rug is kept in the Leningrad Museum. There are several different suppositions about the origin of this rug.

Professor Rudenko himself believed that the rug was made by the Medes (170 BC - 226 AC) or possibly ancient Parthians. Schurman, a respected researcher of rug art, believes that the Pazyryk rug was woven in Azarbaijan (in the North West of Persia). Another researcher, Dimond, believes that the Pazyryk contains figures of Assyrian and Achaemenian (330-553 BC) culture, that its origin is Persia. Other respected experts have different opinions on Pazyryk's origin.

Ian Bennet believes that with more than 3500 kilometers distance between the Altai Mountain and the borders of Persia, the probability that this rug was the work of Persian weavers is very remote. Ian Bennet, in his book entitled Rugs and Carpets of the World, stresses that the art and technique of rug weaving originated in East Asia among the Mongol tribes. He believes that from there it migrated to Eastern Asia and Persia. An important period in the history of rug weaving came during the reign of the Sassanid dynasty in Persia (224-641 AD). Magnificent Persian rugs won international acclaim and were exported to distant lands. One such splendor was a large-sized rug in the audience hall of the palace of King Khosrow of the Sassanid dynasty at Ctesiphon, depicting a formal garden. The brocaded rug with silver and gold threads with jewels was named "Spring of Khosrow''.