First mats were made in19th century. The beginning of this manufacture,
as making mats was for many years, is sometimes connected with weaving
baskets. The earliest ones were constructed by interlacing blades of
grass, leave or reed placed at a 90 degree angle. The common form given
was a check pattern or check weave. A few shards recovered tell of the
weaver attempting to give the mat strength or padding. To accomplish
this extra layers of material were placed upon the woven blades.
