Archeologists have discovered many noisemakers that were used by the Aztecs. Made of clay, turkey feathers, sugar cane, frog skins and other natural materials – each one likely served a specific purpose.

Conch shells, for instance, were sounded at the beginning of ceremonies, while hunters used animal-shaped ocarinas to produce grunts that lured deer.

But it is the death whistle that generates the strongest reactions, because of the creepy sound it makes when blown into.

Give it a listen and imagine the sound of hundreds of them blown by warriors storming your city:

Here’s a YouTube video of musician Xavier Quijas Yxayotl blowing into a carved jade one:

“I want to share with you this very unique instrument,” he says before starting his macabre solo. “We call this the ‘death whistle’ that the Aztecs used for special ceremonies – for Day of the Dead celebrations, and also they use when they have a war, when they fight with other tribes. They play over a hundred instruments, a hundred death whistles marching to cause a big psychological effect to the enemy.”