A team of researchers from the University of York in the UK claims that the ear holes in the mask suggest it was actually intended for a woman or a high-status child. Perhaps it was meant for the stepmother of Pharaoh Tutankhamun—Queen Nefertiti, whose body has never been found.
The researchers speculated that Tutankhamun’s sudden death at the age of 18 forced them to adapt a mask that was not originally made for him.
This mask was not created for an adult male pharaoh; moreover, it is made from a different gold than other artifacts associated with Tutankhamun, noted Professor Joanne Fletcher.
Her team reached these conclusions after re-examining historical records from the 1922 excavation. Joanne Fletcher was particularly drawn to a document that stated, “It is noted that the mask has clearly pierced ears.” While pharaohs wore earrings, ear holes were typically not included in their funerary masks.
The idea that this mask was not intended for Tutankhamun was first proposed in 2015 by Egyptologist Nicholas Reeves. He believes this golden artifact was made for Queen Nefertiti—the stepmother of the young pharaoh, whose tomb has yet to be discovered.
In 1922, British archaeologist Howard Carter discovered the mask in the lavish tomb of Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings on the west bank of the Nile. Archaeologists were surprised to find that the burial site was significantly smaller than what would be expected for a pharaoh’s tomb. Tutankhamun’s mask featured a wide collar made of semi-precious stones and was adorned with colorful beads. Additionally, a false golden beard was attached to the mask.
Funerary masks were made for both pharaohs and ordinary people. However, pharaohs’ masks were crafted from gold or silver, while those for commoners were made from wood or clay. These masks, according to ancient Egyptian beliefs, helped the deceased’s soul return to the body, where it would be judged by the god Anubis.
Famous pharaohs like Amenhotep III and Ramses II were also buried with funerary masks. However, their masks did not have pierced ears, the Daily Mail reported.
Professor Fletcher suggested that this detail on the young pharaoh’s mask indicates the hurried nature of his burial. This is further supported by the established fact that the paint on the walls of Tutankhamun’s tomb had not dried before it was sealed.
Pharaoh Tutankhamun ascended to the Egyptian throne at the age of nine and ruled from 1332 to 1323 BC. Scholars believe he suffered from health issues due to the incestuous relationship between his father Akhenaten and his sister, who bore him the boy pharaoh.
Researchers assert that Tutankhamun had a clubfoot, a cleft palate, bone disease, and scoliosis. Some experts suspect he was murdered, while others insist that the young ruler’s premature death was related to health problems.