An Aztec death whistle sounds like a human scream. (Image: Dall-E, Photoshop)
A video captured by a doorbell camera has generated over 20 million views on X (formerly Twitter).
It shows a dog owner at a pool. After about 9 seconds, a kind of deafening scream sounds and both animal and human flee.
Danger: The screeching can be disturbing. We therefore recommend turning down the volume before clicking on the video!
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Although not confirmed, the sound is said to be an Aztec death whistle, an ancient artifact that produces the “most terrible sound in the world.” It’s reminiscent of a human screech.
One thing should be noted: Even if the terrible scream sounds like a death whistle, it could also be an animal.
Was ist die Aztec Death Whistle?
Such a pipe was first discovered during excavations in an Aztec temple in Mexico City in the 1990s Mexicolore.co.uk.
What it was used for is still unclear today.
It would be conceivable, for example, to use several warriors in battle to intimidate the opponent.
One Those assumes that the sound of a human scream can only be achieved through much larger replicas, such as those that can even be bought today.
An Aztec death pipe as found during an excavation. (Image: Wikipedia)
The specimen found in the temple in Mexico City was significantly smaller and it is believed that the pipe was used for ceremonial or religious purposes.
Mesoamerican peoples were for their human sacrifice known to appease the gods. Since the first pipe was found in the clasped hand of a headless skeleton, its use in such a ritual is conceivable.
The YouTube channel “The Action Lab” printed several of these Aztec death pipes using a 3D printer to uncover the mystery.
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Why do human screams give us goosebumps?
One could simply dismiss the sound from the whistle as such, but from a scientific perspective, a human scream has special effects on us.
One ndollarscientific study from the University of Geneva in 2015 found that screams have a unique sound property that exists outside the boundaries of human language. Regardless of the volume or words used, the acoustic feature shakes our core fear centers.
Screams have a special effect on us humans. (Image: Serhii Holdin – adobe.stock.com)
Unlike speaking, the scream cycles through a variety of sounds in a short period of time. The result is an acoustic phenomenon that resembles an unpleasant rattling and is called »Unknown area« is known.
This is how a scream affects our body: The amygdala (a part of our brain) judges whether a threat is real and regulates our emotional and physiological response to danger. Our adrenaline levels then rise. The study found that screaming has a similar effect on the body, putting us on alert.
Past civilizations continue to fascinate us. A 4,000-year-old stone could turn out to be a treasure map. If you’d rather have something pleasant on your ears, here’s how to find the right headphones for you.
The Aztec death whistle makes a terrible sound. The person in the video should not be blamed for running for their life. How would you have reacted if you were surprised by such a scream in the dark? Did you know about the Aztec Death Whistle beforehand? Feel free to write us your thoughts in the comments.
