The tenlporal and spatial distribution of heavy nletals (Cd, Hg, Pb, As and Cr) in Poyang Lake, the largest freshwater lake (3050km:) in China, were studied based on the sedimentary profiles. For this purpose, eight sedimentary cores were selected which located at lake area, outfall of lake and the main branch rivers, respectively. High resolution profiles with interval 2 cm were used fur analyzing the concentration of metals, and the ages of them were determined by20pb and 137 Cs isotopic dating. While studying the change of nletals concentration with the age in profile, it is found that the concentration of then1 in sedinlents was influenced not only by the sources in history but also by the sedinlent types. Based on this detailed work, the inventory and burden of heavy metals per decade were estimated in lake area during the past S0 years. Significantly, rivers contribution ratio per decade was estinlated to distinguish each river's contribution of heavy nletals into lake while river flux in history and nletals concentration in profiles were considered as calculating factors. So, our research provides a proof to well understand the sedinlentarv history and the inputting historv of heavv nletals fronl nlain rivers into an inland lake.