Hear the Aztec 'Death Whistle' That Mystified Scientists

Gizmodo ^ | Rose Pastore

[BenLurkin]

In the 1990s, archeologists in Mexico City unearthed a 500-year-old skeleton near an ancient Aztec temple—a victim of human sacrifice. A grisly discovery, yes, but perhaps even more chilling was what the beheaded skeleton was holding: two small whistles, one in the shape of a skull. When a researcher blew into one of the tiny instruments, the horrifying sounds that emerged immediately captivated imaginations. One scholar described the noise as “a shriek of death.”

The dreadful, high-pitched sound of the whistle is perhaps most comparable to a human scream. “There are different air streams generated within the structure of these instruments, which then diametrically hits against each other,” said Arnd Adje Both, a music archeologist who has examined the whistle. “And thus the Aztecs were able to produce a very shrill and noisy sound.”

[Bob434]

several death whistle sounds

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Sw0VCtZs-g

[wally_bert]

I’ll stick with reruns of The Whistler for my whistle hearing needs.

It was highly rated in its day.

[hanamizu]

I’ll stick with reruns of The Whistler for my whistle hearing needs.

---

I was very young when radio was being replaced by TV. Like a book, radio dramas were in your mind, you participated a lot more than with TV. I still remember the Whistler’s theme whistle. Lot’s of old radio shows can be found at archive.org

[wally_bert]

I’ve learned to appreciate a lot of OTR.

[DouglasKC]

Vince Vaughn is unrecognizable in the publicity poster. Will check out.

Not the typical Vince Vaughn goofy guy role. He's very good in it.

[fatima]

OK Then :)

[Revel]

Thanks

[Ban Draoi Marbh Draoi]

Really.

If the pro lifers were to blow these things in front of abortion clinics and at Democrat rallies, how long would it be before the Democrats and their allies would push to have them banned?

(Personally I think it would be a real hoot.)

[Ransomed]

Ha, I was thinking the same thing. Good but brutal movie. Sid Haig had a small part in that, if I recall.

Freegards

[Western Phil]

Weren’t we exposed to something similar from South Africa not too long ago?

[fieldmarshaldj]

*ping*

[Chode]

damn... they DO sound like screams

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks fieldmarshaldj. Hey, if you're gonna commit human sacrifice, there's really no limit on how creepy you can get.

[BenLurkin]

Middle Earth. It was from Middle Earth

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7B2LPxggvqY

[21twelve]

I watched some show where the CIA or somesuch were torturing the guys with tapes of the Aztec Death Whistle. I had to do a search and see if it was real. Over the laptop speakers it was annoying, but torture? I suppose after 48 hours straight it could be.

[dsc]

“the remnants of the Canaanites are no doubt pleased to hear that.”

The Canaanites were baby killers, like Planned Parenthood.

They brought it on themselves.

[bert]

Bagpipes are not intimidating

Bagpipes are disgusting

[kabar]

I love bagpipes. I guess it is a cultural thing.

Amazing Grace - Scottish Bagpipes

The Ladies from Hell - The Black Watch- Royal Highland Regiment of Canada History