New analysis suggests Tutankhamun's golden mask belonged to another

A recent analysis by researchers from the University of York suggests that King Tutankhamun's iconic golden death mask may not have been originally crafted for the young pharaoh. Led by Professor Joann Fletcher, an Egyptologist and honorary visiting professor in the Department of Archaeology at the University of York, the team has hypothesized that distinctive features of the mask indicate it was intended for a high-status female or child.

Professor Fletcher's team re-examined existing records of the 1922 excavation by Howard Carter, housed at Oxford University's Griffith Institute. They focused on a specific detail that had previously gone unnoticed: the perforated ears of the mask. "This mask was not made for an adult male pharaoh; when the gold was compared, [they found] the face is made of completely different gold to the rest," Professor Joann Fletcher stated in a new History Hit documentary, according to Express.co.uk.

The presence of earring holes on the mask suggests it may have originally been prepared for someone other than Tutankhamun. In Ancient Egypt, male pharaohs were not typically depicted with pierced ears in their funerary masks, as ear piercings were represented only in images of children and women. Professor Fletcher observed, "Evidence of soldering is clearly visible on the mask. It now seems as if Tutankhamun's own face was effectively grafted onto the mask of the previous ruler. They may have had pierced ears, they may have been a woman, it may well have been Nefertiti," as reported by Express.co.uk.

This theory builds upon earlier suggestions made by British Egyptologist Nicholas Reeves. In 2015, Reeves proposed that the mask might have been intended for Queen Nefertiti, Tutankhamun's stepmother. He noted the mask's "feminine appearance" and its resemblance to the bust of Nefertiti. Reeves theorized that the mask originally belonged to Nefertiti and was adapted for Tutankhamun due to the urgency of his burial preparations. According to El Diario NY, Reeves stated that the gold veil of the mask could have been intended for Nefertiti but was reused for Tutankhamun due to the haste with which his funerary rituals were organized.

Tutankhamun ascended to the throne at nine years old and died unexpectedly at around 18 or 19, leaving little time for elaborate ceremonial preparations. Due to the sudden nature of his death, some experts believe the court had to use whatever was available for his burial, including a funerary mask that may have belonged to another person. The mask was "fitted" to Tutankhamun, as the gold in the applied layers differs slightly, leading to the conclusion that it may have been made for someone else and then adapted for the pharaoh.

Howard Carter, the archaeologist who discovered Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922, had noticed the "holes" in the mask but did not seek explanations. According to Komsomolskaya Pravda, in Carter's report, which Professor Fletcher cites, he only "drew attention to one feature that had long been overlooked... clearly pierced ears."

The notion that the mask was not originally intended for Tutankhamun raises questions about burial practices and artifact recycling in Ancient Egypt. Funerary masks were significant in Ancient Egyptian culture as they were made in the likeness of the deceased to facilitate the soul's return to the body in the afterlife. However, representations of adult men in their funerary masks, especially pharaohs, did not usually include features such as pierced ears.

Professor Fletcher suggested that Tutankhamun may have worn earrings in his childhood but not in adulthood. "According to Professor Fletcher, it is very likely that Tutankhamun, who ascended to the throne at 9 years old and died at 19, wore earrings in his childhood but not in adulthood," reported El Diario NY.

The possibility that the mask was originally made for Nefertiti is further supported by the lack of discovery of her tomb or mummy. Nefertiti, whose name translates to "the beautiful one has come," lived over 3,300 years ago and was the principal wife of Pharaoh Akhenaten. She is one of the most iconic figures of Ancient Egypt, known for her influence during the Eighteenth Dynasty and remains a figure of intense intrigue among historians. Despite extensive searches, her tomb has never been found, leading to theories that she may be buried near Tutankhamun.

Nicholas Reeves suggested that Nefertiti's body rests near Tutankhamun, possibly in a secret adjoining chamber within his tomb. "The tomb in which Tutankhamun's sarcophagus was discovered is quite small for a pharaoh. Most likely, it is part of a larger 5-6 room space that was originally arranged for Queen Nefertiti," Reeves stated, according to Komsomolskaya Pravda.

Previous attempts to locate hidden chambers within Tutankhamun's tomb have yielded mixed results. In 2016, Japanese specialists led by Hirokatsu Watanabe claimed that two hidden rooms were "visible" behind one of the walls, with indications of "some organic material" and "metal." However, subsequent investigations by Italian archaeologists from the Polytechnic University in Turin, led by Francesco Porcelli, did not confirm these findings. They "did not find convincing features that would indicate that there are any cavities behind the walls of the tomb," reported Komsomolskaya Pravda.

Despite the uncertainties, there is hope that the current revelations by British Egyptologists may shed new light on the mysteries surrounding Tutankhamun's tomb and the possible resting place of Nefertiti. "There is hope that after the current revelations by British Egyptologists, the mystery will be clarified in some way," reported Komsomolskaya Pravda.

This discovery adds to the ongoing fascination with Tutankhamun's tomb, discovered 102 years ago by Howard Carter. The tomb has captivated researchers and the public due to the invaluable treasures it contained, including his golden funerary mask, which is one of the most sophisticated examples of ancient craftsmanship. The mask is made of gold, adorned with semi-precious stones, and features colorful details and a false beard of solid gold. According to El Diario NY, funerary masks were designed in likeness to the deceased to facilitate this process in the afterlife, and Tutankhamun's mask included a bust, a collar of semi-precious stones, colorful details, and a false beard of solid gold.

The study of Tutankhamun's mask continues to reveal details that enrich our understanding of Ancient Egypt. More than 3,000 years after its creation, the mask reminds us that there are still many mysteries to discover, including the origins of the mask itself.

Sources: The Scottish Sun, Express.co.uk, El Diario NY, Komsomolskaya Pravda

This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq