A review of reconstructed erosion from lake sediments.

Highlights the importance of regional studies.

Human-erosion detectable since Bronze Age; 400 BC-400 AD (Iron Age-Antiquity) was a period of strong human-erosion in NW Alps.

Rare intense precipitation events are the main triggers of sediment movement at high altitude sites.

Regional erosion patterns reflect i) hydro-climate; ii) soil dynamics; iii) glaciers fluctuations.