In the ancient world, beds were no more than mere piles of straw, leaves, or other natural materials used to provide an area that was softer than the ground. The first big change in the way people sleep was when these were raised off the ground to avoid dirt, insects and moisture. Evidence has been found in Scotland that beds were raised onto stone boxes as early as 2200 BC. These raised beds, however, were extremely expensive by those days’ standards and were only accessible to the very wealthy. The Egyptians had high bedsteads that were reached with steps and had curtains hanging around them. The most elite of the Egyptian society, such as pharaohs and queens, even had beds that were made of wood, often also gilded. These beds also had a built in head rest made of metal, wood or stone and was shaped semi-cylindrical. These pieces of furniture were often elaborately decorated with inlays and designs of ivory, metal or mother-of-pearl.