The Aztec death whistle made a creepy sound, even today they don’t know exactly what it was used for

In the 1990s archaeologists a group found the skeleton of a sacrificed man in a church in Mexico City. A bizarre, skull-shaped, flute-like ceramic instrument was found in the victim’s hand.

This was the first time an Aztec death whistle had been found.

The terrifying sound device it immediately inspired scientists who tried to reproduce what sound it might have made and exactly what it was used for. Many believe that it can produce such a terrifying sound that only a supernatural being, a ghost, or the screams of the damned, or the violent howling of the wind can make.

There are of course somewhat exaggerated analogies among them, but the fact is that the Aztec death whistle did not make a pleasant sound, and it was not exactly used to calm people. But since the sound of the Aztec death whistle may have evoked the howling of the wind, scientists believe that it could also have been used as a tribute to the Aztec wind god, Ehecatl.

As it had an unsettling effect, other theories suggest that these whistles were often used by Aztec warriors during battles to intimidate their opponents. While others believe that this shrill whistle was used to ward off evil spirits when human sacrifices were presented.

The truth may be somewhere between the above, since scientists can only guess to this day what the exact purpose of making the Aztec death whistles was. Thanks to 3D printing, nowadays they can easily reproduce the appearance and even the sound of the death whistles. In the video below, you can listen to

what a terrifying sound such a whistle can make.