The art of making carpets was probably developed on the plains of Central Asia several thousand years ago. The nomads needed some protection from the cold winters, something more easily handled than the sheepskin coverings. At the same time they were also making decorations for their tents. The materials used for the warp, weft and pile came from the herds of goats and flocks of sheep. The cultural ecology of carpet making today deals with the financial and well being aspects of families and communities of weavers employed in factories and at home, particularly in Third World economies aiming for long term sustainability.