The older pieces had a cotton foundation, with a single shot of weft carried across the rug after each row of symmetrical knots. Much camel's hair in natural colours was used in the pile, often forming a broad band at the edges of the rug; but wool dyed in camel colours was a frequent substitute. Repeat designs and “pole medallion” schemes (medallions connected by a “pole”) were used, individual villages having their own stock patterns. A more recent production of relatively coarse and cheap rugs has been introduced, so that in late years a Hamadan has become synonymous with an inexpensive Persian.