Study finds Aztec death whistles evoke fear by mimicking human screams

A new study reveals that Aztec death whistles produce sounds resembling human screams, which may have prepared sacrifice victims for their journey to the underworld. The whistles, made from clay and shaped like skulls, were used in rituals. Researchers analyzed brain scans of 70 listeners exposed to over 2,500 sound samples from both modern reproductions and ancient whistles. The sounds triggered emotional responses in the brain, suggesting they were used in specific death-related ceremonies. The study highlights the unique construction of these whistles, with no comparable instruments found in other pre-Columbian cultures. Further research is needed to explore the full implications of these findings.