Archaeologists discover incredible 'overlooked feature' on Tutankhamun's death mask

Tutankhamun's death mask is one of the most iconic relics of Ancient Egypt, alongside the Pyramids. The Boy King, who ascended to the throne at the tender age of nine and ruled for only 10 years before his sudden demise, was one of the last pharaohs of the Eighteenth Dynasty, a time of significant transformation for the ancient empire.

His cause of death has been shrouded in mystery, with experts speculating that an infection spread through his body following a broken leg. Despite being hailed as one of the greats in Ancient Egyptian terms, Tutankhamun's burial suggests he wasn't respected, according to Egyptologists who have spotted an "overlooked" clue on his death mask.

This mask, currently housed in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, was discovered by British archaeologist Howard Carter. Recently, Professor Joann Fletcher, an Egyptologist and honorary visiting professor in the Department of Archaeology at the University of York, examined the burial records left by Mr Carter at Oxford University's Griffith Institute.

One document caught her attention, which has recently been scrutinised and "honed in on one long-overlooked feature... the decidedly pierced ears [on the death mask]."

In a riveting revelation during the History Hit documentary, The Valley Of Kings: The Egyptian Golden Age, an expert shared a fascinating insight: "It has been suggested that this mask was originally made for someone else."

Delving into Tutankhamun's burial rites, the documentary explained: "Research suggests that Tutankhamun would not have worn earrings beyond childhood. So, by the age of 20, when he died, he would not have been portrayed with pierced ears."

Prof Fletcher theorised that the iconic death mask might have been intended for an entirely different pharaoh, possibly not even a close relative of Tutankhamun.

She explained: "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.

She continued: "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."

The enigmatic Queen Nefertiti remains one of Ancient Egypt's most intriguing personalities, known to have held considerable sway during the Eighteenth Dynasty.

Married to Akhenaten, Tutankhamun's father, Nefertiti was not related to the young pharaoh by blood. Despite discovering her bust in Tell el-Amarna in 1912, mysteries about her remain, with her tomb and other personal relics still yet to be unearthed.

Rumours are rife among Egyptology enthusiasts about the final resting place of Queen Nefertiti, with some suggesting she is concealed in a clandestine chamber within King Tutankhamun's tomb. Scholars also debate over whether the burial site we know today was indeed intended for the young pharaoh.

Some experts believe that following his premature death, Tutankhamun was swiftly interred in a more modest grave, while his successor, Ay, claimed the more lavish sepulchre.

In National Geographic's Lost Treasures of Egypt, Egyptologist Aliaa Ismail shed light on several clues suggesting the grander tomb was meant for Tutankhamun.

She explained: "Both Tut and Ay opted for the same scene, almost like the same person chose what goes in each tomb... It's very similar to the tomb of Tutankhamun - the style, the artwork, the sarcophagus, but, it's so much bigger."

She continued: "Ay buried Tutankhamun in the smaller tomb, so he could have the bigger tomb for himself... This is the tomb that was intended for Tutankhamun, the tomb of Ay."

Adding to the mystery, black spots adorn the walls of King Tut's tomb, which many scholars cite as evidence that the paint had not dried when the tomb was sealed, indicating that its preparation was rushed and done so at the eleventh hour.

She highlighted: "Both Tut and Ay opted for the same scene, almost like the same person chose what goes in each tomb," followed by the observation that, "it's very similar to the tomb of Tutankhamun - the style, the artwork, the sarcophagus, but, it's so much bigger."

Revealing a possible power move from the ancient world, she proposed: "Ay buried Tutankhamun in the smaller tomb, so he could have the bigger tomb for himself," concluding, "This is the tomb that was intended for Tutankhamun, the tomb of Ay."

Supporting this contentious claim are mysterious black blemishes on the walls of King Tut's alleged tomb, thought by experts to suggest hurried decoration efforts. They argue these spots are residual paint, still damp when the tomb was hastily sealed, underscoring the hasty preparations for the boy king's unexpected demise.