Abstract

Stable isotope analyses of lacustrine organic matter is often used to reflect past environmental changes in aquatic ecosystems. Isotopic fractionation and variable sources of organic matter, however, hinder straightforward environmental interpretations of isotope signatures. To evaluate how stable isotopic values in surface lake sediments reflect modern isotope values evidence, extensive human disturbance is considered to be novel. Thus, understanding the impact of peatland resilience to humaninduced disturbance prevail to be a huge challenge. By conducting palaeoecological study in a peatland on the coastal area of Jambi, Central Sumatra, we found strong evidence of extensive human disturbance from 1100 to 500 years ago, indicated by the openness in vegetation and decreased ecosystem ability to accumulate peat and carbon. The disturbance is noticed to be resulted from logging and grazing activities conducted by the inhabitants of Malayu Empire in the 9th to 14th century, whose temple remain is located close to the peatland. After the land abandonment as the Empire moved to the hinterland area, the record interestingly showed that ecosystem has recovered. In addition, the record suggests that socioeconomic and political condition was a significant indirect driver on peatland vegetation and its function.