But in the forests of central Mexico, a single note from an Aztec whistle didn’t always indicate celebration — it meant death. “Death whistles,” or Aztec skull whistles, were short, carved instruments ...

During ritual ceremonies, the ancient Aztec civilization used a “death whistle” — a haunting instrument shaped like a human ...

Aztec communities may therefore have used the scary sounds in specific ritual contexts, such as ceremonies involving death. "Skull whistles might have been used to scare the human sacrifice or the ...

During ritual ceremonies, the ancient Aztec civilization used a “death ... by these whistles could have been used to prepare human sacrifices for their journey to the underworld, Mictlan.

Those who hear it are shocked by its uncanny vocal quality, an otherworldly whirr that would no doubt have been chilling to ...

raising questions about human sacrifice in the Aztec Empire. "Although we can't say how many of these individuals were warriors, perhaps some were captives destined for sacrificial ceremonies ...

The mysterious Aztec "death whistles" have fascinated researchers with their eerie, terrifying effect they have on the ...

The Aztec skull whistle produces a shrill, screaming sound. A study shows that these whistles have a disturbing effect on the human brain. The Aztecs may have deliberately used this effect in ...

The so-called Aztec “death whistle” is an instrument distinguished by producing a chilling sound, comparable to a person’s ...