Archaeologists in southern Mexico have found a cache of over fifty clay whistles shaped like migratory songbirds. Found at the base of a ceremonial staircase in Chiapas, these instruments were designed to produce high-pitched, warbling notes that imitate the calls of local avian species arriving in the spring.
The find suggests that the ancient Maya held specific migration festivals to celebrate the return of birds, which were seen as messengers from the gods. Acoustic tests on the whistles show they were tuned to create a "wall of sound" when played together, likely intended to create an immersive ritual environment during the vernal equinox.