New Research This Drilled Cow Bone May Have Been an Ancient Egyptian Cop’s Whistle The artifact, found 17 years ago, was recently replicated and tested by researchers Sonja Anderson - Daily Correspondent Get our newsletter! A carved-out cow bone found in Egypt is actually an ancient whistle, once used by an Egyptian “police officer.” This officer didn’t use the whistle to direct traffic, though. Nothing like it has ever been found in ancient Egyptian ruins. Langley tells Live Science that the artifact reminded her of Stone Age bone whistles found in Europe. The bone whistle is a humble representation of their lives—of how powerful Egyptians maintained control of workers in a “tense” situation.