[Aztlan] AZTEC WHISTLES OF DEATH

[Justin Kerr]

Dear Mike,
I believe the whistles referred to in the article may have looked like this
example.
http://research.famsi.org/portfolio_thumbs.php?rowstart=32&search=*Aztec*&da
te_added=&display=8
The sound this whistle makes is a high piercing and you have to kiss the
skull on lips to make it work.
If the link doesn't work, search for 5868a in Portfolio at www.mayavase.com.
Justin

-----Original Message-----
From: aztlan-bounces at lists.famsi.org [mailto:aztlan-bounces at lists.famsi.org]
On Behalf Of michael ruggeri
Sent: Friday, June 27, 2008 12:30 PM
To: aztlan at lists.famsi.org
Subject: [Aztlan] AZTEC WHISTLES OF DEATH



Listeros,

AP has posted an interesting story on Aztec "whistles of death" and  
Mesoamerican music. Human skeletons have been found with skull shaped  
whistles in each hand which mechanical engineer Roberto Velasquez  
believes the Aztecs played in advance of human sacrifice. VelasHquez  
has spent a career trying to recreate the sounds of Mesoamerican  
music. He believes the Aztecs may also have played musical  
instruments to cure illness.

The Maya made musical instruments of clay, turkey feathers, sugar  
cane and frog skin. The Aztecs used conch shells to start ceremonies  
and war. Ocarinas were used to lure deer.

The "whistles of death" are thought to help into the journey of the  
underworld and to induce shamanistic trances.

Studies of these instruments are now becoming a more important  
component of Mesoamerican research.

The AP has the story below;
http://www.pr-inside.com/recreating-pre-columbian-sounds-r668938.htm

Mike Ruggeri


Mike Ruggeri's Aztec and Toltec World
http://tinyurl.com/yqypej













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