File:Early medieval sword pyramid (FindID 803833).jpg

English: An incomplete copper alloy early medieval 'sword pyramid'. Generally such objects are pyramidal but this example is conical, with a circular hole at the apex, now filled with iron corrosion material and debris. It is hollow, inside the base is the corroded remains of what may be a traverse bar. The outer surface is decorated with a series of panels filled with vertical and horizontal ridges. The edge of the base is irregular, showing damage and chipping. The object has a green patina with dark patches.

There are other examples of the conical form recorded on this database, for example LIN-666425 and SWYOR-89C624

The object is 21.5 mm in diameter at the base, tapering to 7 mm at the apex. It is 22.6 mm long. It weighs 18.10 g.

The function of pyramidal mounts is still uncertain, but it seems likely that they were used to help secure the sword in the scabbard, by means of a strap running through the transverse bar on the base of the mount. They were most commonly manufactured in copper alloy and to a lesser extent silver, but occasionally also in gold: two were famously found in Sutton Hoo Mound 1, but despite this they are relatively uncommon grave finds. Instead they are much more common as stray finds, suggesting that they were easily subject to damage and loss. Over 60 have now been recorded on the PASdatabase and/or reported as treasure, adding considerably to Menghin's (1983, 363-5, Karte 22) original corpus.