Bergama carpet

Bergama Carpet refers to handwoven floor coverings made in the town of Bergama in northwest Turkey.

Bergama carpets are of all-wool construction and have a knotting density of around 12 knots per cm². They are typically three to four meters square in size and originated from around the 14^th to 15^th century.

There are approximately eighty villages around Bergama that still weave carpets. The history of carpet weaving in Bergama dates back to the 11th century - when Turkish migration started to the area. Bergama carpets have almost always been woven with wool - an attestation to the pastoral life style of the Yörük clans populating the area at the time.

Knotting density of Bergama rugs is about 12 knots per square cm. Most carpets come in the size of 3 to 4 square meters. Bergama carpets can be divided into these main groups:

- Yagcibedir,
- Kazdagi,
- Yuntdagi,
- Yuncu Karakecili, and
- Kozak

Although the history of carpet weaving in Bergama dates back to the 11th century, most surviving carpets do not age more than 200 years - mainly due to their wool content. The oldest surviving Bergama carpets can be found in mosques in and around Bergama, as well as the archaeological museum in Bergama.

References

* [http://www.about-turkey.com/carpet/bergama.htm Bergama] at About Turkey
* [http://www.akmb.gov.tr/turkce/books/aris%201/gonuloner-ing.htm Adventure of Anatolian - Turkish Carpets]

External links

* [http://www.wsu.edu/~wldciv/tours/turkey/bergrugstore.html Bergama rug store photo]
* [http://www.kultur.gov.tr/EN/BelgeGoster.aspx?17A16AE30572D313A79D6F5E6C1B43FF010A7E0316D15F82 Bergama rug] at Turkish Culture website