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SCABBARD
Unique ID: WILT-761BB7
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
An Early-Medieval (500-700) cast copper alloy and silvered pyramidal mount with some edge damage. It measures 6.89mm high and 14.75x14.33mm at the base. It weighs 2.2g.
The mount is hollow with a single integral attachment bar (3.22mm wide) at the open end. The outside edge extends outwards a little at the open end to give a slight platform. This then appears to extend as a ridge up three of the four sides of the pyramid.
The pyramid is decorated with three standing triangles at the bottom edge, and two hanging triangles between. One the level above are two standing triangles with one hanging between. Silvering survives on all four sides of the pyramid. The squared-off (c.3.5x3.5mm) apex is plain.
Pyramidal mounts may have adorned belts, scabbards, sword harness etc (see MacGregor & Bollick, 1993, 'Summary Catalogue of the Anglo-Saxon Collections', BAR 230, p.210). Evans (Treasure Annual Report 2002, p66-67. no. 57) notes that 'the function of ... mounts such as [these] is not clear, but presumably they were more than decorative and may have secured straps attaching knives, which were generally scabbarded, to a waist belt.
Class: Pyramid
Subsequent actions
Current location of find: Wiltshire Heritage Museum
Subsequent action after recording: Donated to a museum
Chronology
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Early
Period from: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Ascribed Culture:
Anglo-Saxon style
Date from: Circa AD 500
Date to: Circa AD 700
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Height: 6.89 mm
Width: 14.75 mm
Thickness: 14.33 mm
Weight: 2.2 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Thursday 26th November 2009 - Thursday 28th January 2010
Personal details
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Other reference numbers
Museum accession number: DZSWS:2011.13
Materials and construction
Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Incomplete
Surface Treatment: White metal coated
Spatial metadata
Region: South West (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Wiltshire (Unitary Authority)
District: Wiltshire (Unitary Authority)
Parish or ward: Everleigh (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: SU1953
Four figure Latitude: 51.275833
Four figure longitude: -1.729001
1:25K map: SU1953
1:10K map: SU15SE
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Timeline of associated dates
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