Despite a multitude of lead-contamination archives, the history of anthropogenic lead (Pb) contamination in Central Europe during the Holocene has remained incompletely understood. Contributing to a regionally differentiated understanding of Pb contamination in Central Europe since the Late Glacial (14.5 kyrs ago), this paper presents a record of atmospheric Pb deposition from an ombrotrophic peat bog at Füramoos, southern Germany. We combine Pb content and isotope data with pollen data allowing the interpretation of Pb signals within a context of natural change and human activities. The data show that Pb accumulation rates during the Late Glacial and early Holocene (0.074 mg*m^-2*yr^-1) were considerably higher than those during the mid-Holocene (0.016 mg*m^-2*yr^-1). Anthropogenic Pb contamination commenced at 3600 years BP and originates primarily from the Western Mediterranean region until the demise of the Roman Empire, after which contamination sources shifted to Britain, France, and Germany. For the past 3600 years, the data document an exponential increase in Pb contamination (max 5.6 mg*m^-2*yr^-1) that is unhinged from natural Pb deposition and far exceeds the natural Holocene background levels. The integrated geochemical and palynological approach allows placement of Pb contamination signals into detailed historical context. Land-use changes at Füramoos are consistent with the timing of political, economic, and social developments of medieval societies that modulated the ability and demand for mining during the past millennia.

尽管有大量铅污染档案，但对全新世期间中欧人为铅 (Pb) 污染的历史仍未完全了解。为了对自晚冰期（14.5 kyrs 前）以来中欧地区铅污染的区域差异性理解做出贡献，本文提供了德国南部 Füramoos 一个嗜营养泥炭沼泽的大气铅沉积记录。我们将铅含量和同位素数据与花粉数据相结合，允许在自然变化和人类活动的背景下解释铅信号。数据表明，晚冰期和全新世早期（0.074 mg*m ^-2 *yr ^-1）的Pb积累率显着高于全新世中期（0.016 mg*m ^-2*年^-1 )。人为铅污染始于公元前 3600 年，主要起源于西地中海地区，直到罗马帝国灭亡，之后污染源转移到英国、法国和德国。在过去的 3600 年中，数据记录了铅污染呈指数增长（最大 5.6 mg*m ^-2 *yr ^-1) 与天然铅沉积脱节，远远超过天然全新世背景水平。综合地球化学和孢粉学方法允许将铅污染信号置于详细的历史背景中。Füramoos 的土地利用变化与中世纪社会的政治、经济和社会发展时间一致，这些发展在过去的几千年中调节了采矿的能力和需求。