ABSTRACT
Soils on the uplands under forest are mostly Mollisols, shallow or moderately deep to limestone or marl. Organic matter in surface horizons is very high; the soils are commonly reddish black in color. The sampling sites are located close to San Antonio and along the transect running west from the village. In addition to sampling for characterization of the soils and the environment, samples were collected from Maya construction areas where reasonable dates of soil formation could be determined. Soil profile samples from a tiny dry aguada below a series of temples on the ridge crest near the central part of Albion Island. Deep soil profiles in the flood plains record many of the geological and anthropological events in the history of the area. Clayey soils under forest on uplands, in aguadas and drainageways generally grade into soft marl or limestone with depth and have variable contents of organic matter in different places.
