An Olmec colossal stone head in basalt from San Lorenzo, c. 1200-400 BCE. Although all wear the hat or headdress worn during war and the Mesoamerican ballgame, each of these massive heads has unique features which suggests they depict specific Olmec rulers.
In this example the head has unexplained drilled dimples which are also seen in some of the other heads.
What would have made these ‘dimples’ and why?
Original image by Maribel Ponce Ixba Creative Commons: Attribution
Notes by: Mark Cartwright