Seven gravity sediment cores were collected from muddy area of inner continental shelf of the oft-com:office:smarttags" />East China Sea. Measurement of 210Pb activity was performed on all cores. The results demonstrate that the sedimentation rates were between 0.79 and 3.66 cm/a, with 1.97 cm/a on average. Distribution of 210Pb activity in surface sediments is correlated closely with the types of sediments, and probably controlled by the clay mineral, but shows a positive correlation with suspended matter concentration. Furthermore, these results reveal relative stable sedimentation processes in the muddy area during the past 100 years and the northward expansion of this muddy area.oft-com:office:office" />