An amateur archaeologist, Roberto Velazquez, has discovered the sound of Aztec musical instruments used in ancient sacrificial rites. Until recently, the archaeological community had dismissed these pottery pieces as children’s toys, but according to Velazquez, they seem to have played a very important role in the ritual life of the Aztec peoples. Some of the whistle-like instruments sound like a banshee, others like frogs and jaguars. Still others have specific pitches and can play melodies.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/06/30/pre-columbiansounds.ap/index.html#cnnSTCOther1
**if the link gives you an error, try hitting “refresh” **
The “death whistle” sounds to me a lot like the flute section on the first day of beginning band class.


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July 1st, 2008 at 3:43 pm
The article said that the death whistles were laying around for fifteen years before anybody blew into one. How could you let a noisemaker sit there that long without giving it a go?
July 1st, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Well, I have an old accordian lying around here someplace, so I guess I kinda know the feeling….
July 1st, 2008 at 11:02 pm
I bet you would have tried it if you knew it was a death accordion.
July 2nd, 2008 at 12:24 am
Man, I’m a sucker for things like that. If I saw those in a store I’d grab a handful. I bought a viking horn just recently.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:32 am
Stiff- you bought a viking horn that really plays? I’ve only seen the ones fashioned into beer glasses…where’d you find it?
Jack, you’re absolutely right.