The extraction and analysis of sedimentary ancient DNA (sedaDNA) from Pleistocene and Holocene sediments could potentially revolutionise palaeoecology and biostratigraphy over the next decade. This potential is growing because it has been shown that a) there is preservation of sedaDNA well outside the sub-Arctic and Arctic biomes, b) the costs are reducing, c) the number of laboratories has increased, and most importantly, d) the techniques, such as metabarcoding and shot gun sequencing, are becoming more robust (both in reliability and specificity) and deeper (in taxonomic coverage). At present, and probably for some considerable time to come, sedaDNA will be used alongside microscopic proxies such as pollen, diatoms, foraminifera and insects but it has the potential to be far more specific in characterising local biotic conditions, climatic reconstructions and impact of human activities. This session invites papers using sedaDNA from sediments or soils from any site from lakes to marine deposits and any time period. Methodological papers are also welcome.