Abstract: Mainly based on sedimentary data from 93 boreholes，  182 radiocarbon dates in the North China Plain，and hydrological measurements as   well as on previously published data on the thickness of deposition in the modern Yellow River delta，the historical changes  of the lower Yellow River channel and the coastlines of the Bohai and Yellow Seas，we estimated the distribution and thickness of sediment accumulated in the lower Yellow River in five periods including 602BC～11A.D，11～1034A.D.，1034～1128A.D.，1128～1855A.D.，and after 1855.The volumes of sediment accumulated on the alluvial fans and plains of the lower Yellow River were estimated to be 3.89×108t/a，2.24×108t/a，6.63×108t/a，6.78×108t/a，8.47×108t/a，respectively in these five periods. Using the results of sediment load of the Yellow River and the distribution of sediment accumulation in the lower Yellow River after 1855，considering the forming processes of the Yellow River delta during 1128～1855A.D.，the sediment delivery ratio of the lower Yellow River was estimated for different situations without or with artificial levees and with different frequencies of leveebreakings. Thereupon，the mean annual sediment outputs from the upper and middle reaches of the Yellow River were calculated to be 6.2×108t/a, 6.8×108t/a，8.3×108t/a，11.5×108t/a，15.3×108t/a，respectively，in the five periods. This means that the sediment output from the upper and middle Yellow River increased slowly before Song Dynasty of China，but was lower than half of the current value on average. It was in the recent about 1000 years that the sediment output from the upper and middle reaches of the Yellow River experienced an accelerated escalation. The Loess Plateau is the principal sediment source of the Yellow River. This study reveals that the changes in sediment yield from the plateau could be attributed mainly to human activities and climate changes on the plateau. The lowest sedimentation rate in the lower Yellow River during the period of 11～1034A.D.provides a  good reason for the occurrence of the 600year stable or inactive period of the lower Yellow River after the year 69A.D.when the lower Yellow River channel was trained under the command of the ancient governor Wang Jing.