The Aztec Empire was one of the most powerful civilizations in pre-Columbian America. Its cities, engineering, and agriculture were unmatched in the region. But at the center of Aztec life was an ...

Brain scans of modern listeners suggest that Aztec whistles sound like human screams, which may have prepared sacrifice victims for their journey to the underworld. When you purchase through links on ...

During ritual ceremonies, the ancient Aztec civilization used a “death whistle” — a haunting instrument shaped like a human skull. Its eerie, high-pitched scream is not just a product of its unique ...

When the Aztecs dominated central Mexico, a blood-curdling sound like a human scream played through a small whistle. Luis Aceves via Unsplash In cultures around the world, instruments have brought ...

Conquistadors and Aztecs: A History of the Fall of Tenochtitlan, by Stefan Rinke, Oxford University Press, 328 pages. Contemporary historiography aims above all to treat native peoples seriously, in ...

Benjamin holds a Master's degree in anthropology from University College London and has previously worked in the fields of psychedelic neuroscience and mental health. Benjamin holds a Master's degree ...

Her role was essential in temple cornerstone dedications, as her image underpinned the temple, which was the axis of spiritual power. Human sacrifices to Coatlicue were acts of reciprocity, offering ...