Persian rugs have a long and rich culture and are perhaps the most significant item from ancient Persian times. Persian rugs still make up a huge part of the industry and export in Iran. The Persian carpet is so highly regarded that it is quiet often replicated. It is common for fake Persian carpets to exist and they are usually passed as the authentic item.

There are three basic types of Persian carpets. The basic difference in these rugs is their size. The first type is the Farsh. Farsh are any Persian rug that is over 6x4. Qalicheon is any rug that is 6x4 or smaller and the third type of Persian rugs in known as the Kilim. The kilim is a Persian rug that is a rough rug rather than a rug that was created by the nomads.

Persians have been in the craft of rug making since before 500 BC.. There is proof of that this craft has been around for over 2500 years. One piece of evidence is actually still in existence. This Persian rug was discovered in 1949 in Siberia. This rug which was discovered in the grave of a Scythian prince has been carbon tested to date back to the 5th century BC.

This rug is still mostly intact and since its discovery has been preserved. This rug provides a witness to the methods of rug making that were used by the ancient Persians.

These borders of this ancient rug depict deer on one side and Persian horsemen on the other. Despite these features it is believed that this rug does not fall into the Kilim category. Meaning it is believed that this rug was not made by nomads.

While this rug is considered the oldest rug in existence, it just one of many significant rugs that were created for Persian royalty. There is other historic evidence that the royal residences of the ancient Persian were filled with fine Persian rugs. In fact it is believed that the court of Cyrus the Great was decked in numerous magnificent rugs.

As early as the sixth century AD. Wool and silk were being used to produce fine Persian rugs. The first wool and silk rugs were reserved for the residency of royalty. Grand residences such as the palace in Sasanian (now Iraq) had several silk Persian rugs in the main audience hall.

These early Persian rugs are grand examples of the handcrafted rugs that the ancient Persians produced. While Persian rugs are still being produced today by modern day Iranians these rugs are made in a different manner than the Pazyryk rug. The majority of modern Persian rugs are made using mechanical methods.

There are still some craftsmen that hand manufacture Persian rugs the way they have been made for over 2500 years. These hand-woven rugs are a huge portion of the import business in Iran. The government of Iran owns the largest producer of fine hand woven Persian rugs. These rugs are the third most popular item exported by the country of Iran.