As previously stated, the facial figures of "Slim" are hidden from view by an elaborate mask and under a bell-shaped hat or headdress (figure 3a). This headdress, with its blocklike projection, resembling nothing so much as the business-end of a "plumber's helper", is surprisingly unadorned for an article of apparel that most probably functioned as an important piece of ritual attire. Like the later Maya, the Olmec used headdresses as billboards for the display of names, titles, and ritual information. Since there are no incised symbols on this headpiece, we must assume that the information it was designed to convey is displayed in its shape. There are several depictions of Olmec headdresses with projections extending above their crowns.