Featured Help ID Tribal Rattle/Whistle ?

Christine-Thanks so much for helping with this piece, that if authentic-would certainly be (given the discovery scenario)-one of my more unique finds ! Your advice re contacting a Greater Nicoya expert's an excellent idea. The only person I've been in touch with so far, is the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum in San Jose, Costa Rica.
I sent the Archaeology Curator, Priscilla Molina Munoz, pics and measurements of the piece. I never hold my breath when writing to Curators/Researchers-they have tons of things to do and are constantly bombarded by amateurs w/ Antique Roadshow fantasies.
We've been to the museum and it has a fine ceramics collection.
PS- Ditto-I'll be doing a deeper dive into finding accredited Nicoya specialists
PSS-Incidentally the Guanacaste-style spicy fruit salsas are excellent.
Here's a shot of the Nicoya Penninsula in the Guanacaste area of Costa Rica-lots of expats.

 

I can tell you from direct observation that both ends are business ends. They are voracious eaters, with the expected consequences at the other end.

 

Bronwen & AJ-I love that word ! We actually have an old friend who plays flute in a Bay Area symphonic orchestra (technically she's a 'Flautist')-next time we meet up I'm dropping that word on her. I'll get a few examples of classical flute embouhures off Wiki to jazz-up my patter !