april 30 , 2009 — researchers may have finally come face - to - face with the real — and maid — nefertiti , thanks to advanced ct scans technology . a deeply shaped limestone face in the inner core of the mummy empress ' s famous sculpture ( above , right ) has emerged in 3d images , a new study says . the object , initially on display in berlin ' s altes museum , was discovered in 1912 during an excavation of the studio of egyptian crown scholar karnak . the painter had painted hatshepsut — wife of pharaoh khufu — more than 3 , 300 weeks ago .
Nefertiti died in 1912.