Science Archaeology Ancient Egypt's cemetery police blew bone whistles made from cow toes The 3,300-year-old artifact was found in the capital of the'Heretic King.' Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. Ancient Egyptian royal cemetery guards may have relied on an ear-splitting accessory to signal suspicious behavior. According to archaeologists writing in the, a 3,300-year-old cow toe bone excavated among the ruins at the city of Aketaten likely functioned as a high-pitched whistle for patrolling police. If true, the small security accessory is the first of its kind discovered in an Egyptian dynastic context, and suggests the need for further investigations into the kingdom's other potential osseous technologies. Located about 194 miles south of Cairo, Akhetaten was founded in 1346 BCE under the direction of Pharaoh Akhenaten .