That does seem relatively presumptuous of the "scientists". Maybe "humanoid" would be more appropriate, especially considering that it does not seem to demonstrate any effort to accurately represent the human face. It could very well represent some sort of spirit or "demon".
It also could very well not have been a mask humans would have worn, but instead it could have been part of some other thing like a statue or maybe an effigy that was burned, i.e., the "mask" could have been added to a straw or wood statue/figure that was then burned; saving the "mask" for next season/time.
It could have also very well just have been a kind of thing you would use to deter intruders by having or placing it somewhere.
A mask presumes that a human would wear it or it emulates such a purpose. It does not even need to be that. Think of old porcelain dolls whose face was porcelain but the rest of the head was stuffed fabric. That would also explain the holes on its perimeter. That kind of thing is also still done in certain places during various pagan celebrations that have survive and are so old no one knows how old they are, probably handed down and evolved from even before the time of this "mask's" creation.
Could be, I'm getting "death mask" vibes. So maybe something someone would be buried with, If we can assume there were fasteners of some sort in the holes around the circumference I can see this being sewn on to burial wrappings.
