Little Statue found in Middle TN.....

[PAPPY]

The indian whistle was used for music....PAPPY

[tjrust]

I'll be watching for that link rustycoinUT, Thanks, I am very curious about this piece, I appreciate the interest in it.

It pays to watch the groundfor loose change, might find anything..

Air does go through it but it doesn't make any whistling noises now,, just hear the air coming out. Maybe we're not holding our mouths right.

[rustycoinUT]

It seems that the website has incountered errors and will not be in working order again. I will do my best to explain what this item means.


Animal representations include monkeys, jaguars, dogs, various rodents, bats, reptiles, turtles, owls, vultures, eagles, and other birds. The animal representations reflect the diversity of animal life found in the jungle surrounding Piedras Negras. They may also symbolize the life forces of the Maya, including the were-animal component of shamanistic practice. Some of the figurine are at the same time animal and men form, suggesting the WAY concept of night-time pilgrimages of shaman in their animal form. Monkeys and jaguars are often portrayed in ceramics due to their associations with nimbleness (for scribes and record-keepers) and for their bravery (for warriors).
Many of the animal figurines were also whistles or ocarinas, especially the birds. Music can imitate nature, and single-note whistles in the shape of owls and other birds probably added to musical celebrations invoking the songs of the jungle. Additionally, the call of humanoid whistles or multi-tone ocarinas would have had special significance depending on the type of celebration.
Figurines bring us closer to the ancients than many other artifact categories. Because figurines are representations of people and animals fashioned by artisans within the culture, they provide tangible evidence of those elements that were important to society, namely gods, elite fashions, animals, and other details of material life that are impossible to reconstruct in other ways.

I will look for whistles that are like the one you have and post pictures or send the pictures directly to you.


rustycoinUT

[tjrust]

I appreciate the insight. I'll keep watching here, I wonder what something like this is valued at?
Thanks