Hear the Aztec ‘Death Whistle’ That Mystified Scientists

In the nineties , archeologists in Mexico City unearthed a 500 - class - honest-to-god skeleton near an ancient Aztec synagogue — a dupe of human forfeit . A sick uncovering , yes , but perhaps even more chilling was what the decapitate skeleton was holding : two small whistles , one in the shape of a skull . When a researcher blew into one of the tiny legal document , the appal sounds that emerged immediately captivated imagery . One scholarly person key out the noise as “ a screaming of death . ”

The dreadful , richly - tilt auditory sensation of the tin whistle is perhaps most like to a human scream . “ There are different strain flow father within the structure of these instruments , which then diametrically hits against each other , ” state Arnd Adje Both , a music archeologist who has examined the whistle . “ And thus the Aztecs were able-bodied to bring about a very sharp and noisy sound . ”

The unfeigned purpose of these artifacts has bilk expert . Were they used to terrorise enemies in warfare ? Aztec warriors were known to beat wooden drum as they advanced into battle — might they also have blown these charnel whistling ? “ you could imagine the frightening phone if you had 200 or 300 or 5,000 warrior blowing these instruments , ” suppose Jaime Arredondo , an artwork historian and professor of Mesoamerican and Latino studies at New York University . “ That would be super daunting . ”

Another hypothesis gave the instruments a more peaceful purpose . They may have been used to induce trances as part of healing ritual — rather than to terrorise , the whistle may have been used to bring consolation .

But perhaps the mostly probable theory of the instruments involve their connective to human sacrifice . In the third episode of our serial “ Sound Mysteries , ” we research the unnerving case of the Aztec death tin whistle .

ArchaeologyScienceSound MysteriesSounds

Argentina’s President Javier Milei (left) and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., holding a chainsaw in a photo posted to Kennedy’s X account on May 27. 2025.