Professor Joann Fletcher stated regarding the death 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..." This highlights the discrepancies in the materials used for different parts of the mask, suggesting a different intended recipient.
In a critical observation, Professor Fletcher noted, 'Honed in on one long-overlooked feature... the decidedly pierced ears [on the death mask].' This detail underscores the rarity of such features in pharaonic death masks, typically reserved for queens and children, thereby indicating a potential alternative purpose.
The team theorizes that Tutankhamun's sudden death at 18 prompted the reshaping of a pre-existing mask. Professor Fletcher advocated for this, stating, "I am sure this death mask was not specifically designed for King Tut," reinforcing the case that the mask's origins must be reconsidered.
The hypothesis about the mask's true origin relates to earlier proposals, such as those by Egyptologist Nicholas Reeves, who believed it might be for Queen Nefertiti, stating, 'This theory of identity change challenges the conventional understanding of King Tut's burial artifacts and their origins.'
Collection
[
|
...
]