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July 3, 2008
Aztec Whistles of Death
For years, many archaeologists who uncovered ancient noisemakers dismissed them as toys. Museums relegated them to warehouses. But while most studies and exhibits of ancient cultures focus on how they looked, Velazquez said the noisemakers provide a rare glimpse into how they sounded."We've been looking at our ancient culture as if they were deaf and mute," he said. "But I think all of this is tied closely to what they did, how they thought."
Of course the ancients had musical accompaniment at their events. Took 'em 15 years to bother to blow into the whistles and see what they sounded like? Bozos.
via Mirabilis.ca
Posted by CrankyProfessor at July 3, 2008 11:24 AM
Comments
This link of Aztec pneuma-flute sounds goes well with photo of my daughter's dress up as Aztec spirit on my blog. Thanks. It reminds me of Tibetan human thigh bone trumpets.
.....Did you read a few years ago about the Tibetan bone smuggling bust? Evidently Tibetans were buying skeletons in China and bringing them to Tibet for - um - instrumental purposes. --MCT
Posted by: Marc at July 6, 2008 12:30 PM