Fragment. Dimensions: Rug: L. 40 3/16 in. (102 cm)W. 46 1 1/6 in. (117 cm). Date: 4th-5th century.This rug fragment is a rare example of an early textile that most certainly functioned as a floor covering. Its brilliant colors, interlocking designs, and shaded geometric forms create an illusionistic effect. The overall design of the fragment is directly linked to decorative floor patterns on Christian mosaic pavements found throughout southern and eastern Mediterranean lands. The cut-loop technique seen here had been used for centuries in Egypt. Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.