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The ancient Maya site of Budsilhá in southern Mexico offers valuable insights into the past, revealing how the region’s inhabitants transformed the landscape for agriculture. In a recent article published in the Soil Science Society of America Journal, researchers studied the soil at the site to understand Maya land use, uncovering evidence of erosion, deforestation, and other human activities that significantly impacted the environment. The findings show how the Maya adapted their farming practices to a hilly, swampy landscape and how soil degradation, including erosion of upland soils, might have contributed to the decline of the civilization. The researchers continue to explore the effects of ancient human activity on soil health, providing potential lessons for current and future agricultural practices.