Decoding molecular fingerprints of the Anthropocene in sedimentary records

Human activities have introduced complex and persistent anthropogenic fingerprints into recent stratigraphic records. Characterizing these signals is critical for understanding contaminant pathways, environmental change, and the preservation of human influence in sediments, yet it remains challenging due to the molecular complexity of anthropogenic inputs and their interactions with natural organic matter pools. This presentation highlights the use of advanced analytical tools, particularly ultra high-resolution mass spectrometry and multidimensional chromatography, in synergy with complementary sedimentological and geochemical techniques to investigate anthropogenic signatures in sedimentary systems. These high-resolution approaches enable detailed characterization of complex organic mixtures and contaminants that are often unresolved by conventional analytical methods. When integrated with stratigraphic context and supporting geochemical data, they provide new insights into the sources, transformations, transport, and preservation of anthropogenic materials across a range of depositional environments. This multi-tool framework demonstrates how cutting-edge analytical capabilities can be applied to sedimentary archives to distinguish human-derived signals from natural background processes, improve reconstructions of recent environmental change, and strengthen the sedimentary record as a tool for tracking the evolving human footprint. This approach underscores the growing importance of analytical innovation for advancing sedimentary geoscience in the Anthropocene.