The death mask of Tutankhamun doesn't belong to him, which alters our understanding of history.

The death mask of Tutankhamun is the most famous Egyptian relic, but researchers have concluded that it may have been intended for another individual, reports DailyMail.

A team of researchers from the University of York in the UK believes that the holes in the ears of the death mask suggest it was made for a woman or a child. It is possible that Tutankhamun's death mask was originally crafted for his stepmother Nefertiti, whose tomb has never been found.

Everything could have changed with the sudden death of the 18-year-old Tutankhamun, which necessitated modifying someone else's death mask for the young pharaoh.

"This mask was not made for an adult pharaoh; even the gold on his death mask does not correspond to the other gold adornments," says Professor Joanna Fletcher.

Historical records from 1922 drew researchers' attention to an unusual feature of Tutankhamun's death mask – the pierced ears, which did not align with ancient Egyptian tradition. Although pharaohs wore earrings, such details were typically not included on death masks. Piercing was only present on masks made for queens and children from prominent families.

Fletcher believes that the death mask was not specifically designed for the pharaoh. Egyptologist Nicholas Reeves came to a similar conclusion, also suggesting that the gold mask was originally created for Queen Nefertiti.

It is known that Nefertiti was married to Pharaoh Akhenaten, the father of Tutankhamun. Tutankhamun himself ascended to the throne at the tender age of just 9 years.

Tutankhamun's death mask was discovered by British archaeologist Howard Carter in 1922 during the excavation of the luxurious tomb of the pharaoh in the Valley of the Kings on the west bank of the Nile.

In Ancient Egypt, death masks were made for all individuals, but only commoners received masks made of wood or clay. The Egyptians believed that such masks helped the deceased's soul return to the body to stand before the judgment of the Egyptian god Anubis.

The mask of Tutankhamun featured a wide collar made of semi-precious stones, and the entire surface of the artifact was adorned with colorful beads. Additionally, a golden beard was attached to the mask. However, the ear piercings immediately caught the attention of researchers.

Famous pharaohs such as Amenhotep III and Ramses II also had death masks, but none of them had pierced ears. At the same time, such a feature was present on the death masks of ancient Egyptian queens.

These details suggest that Tutankhamun's burial was rushed. It is believed that the young pharaoh suffered from health issues due to being born from incest. Pharaoh Akhenaten married his sister, who gave birth to the boy-pharaoh.

Scientists speculate that Tutankhamun may have suffered from clubfoot, a cleft palate, scoliosis, and bone diseases. Some experts suspect that the boy-pharaoh might have been murdered, while others believe that health problems were the cause of his death.

There is also further evidence that Tutankhamun was buried in haste. Characteristic paint stains remain on the walls of his tomb, indicating that the painting had not even dried before the entrance to the tomb was sealed.

Let us remind you, scientists have named a new cause of death for the ruler of Ancient Egypt. The new theory suggests that a possible cause of Tutankhamun's death was riding a chariot while intoxicated.