Art historian Viktor Singh told RIA Novosti agency that, judging by the size of the mask, it may have been worn by both men and women.

“It was possibly used for conducting profane rites which were held in Russia still long after Christianity was embraced.”

Over twenty such masks have been unearthed by archeologists in Veliky Novgorod, a city rich in history and valuable period pieces.

Home to a number of archeological sites, the so-called “Troitsky digs” situated south of the famous local Kremlin regularly give scientists “food for thought” as they discover thousands of rare artifacts.