[Objective] To obtain the optically simulated luminescence (OSL) age of parent material of the representative soil profile in the source region of the Yellow River, reveal the development and formation of parent material based on the paleoclimate records, in order to provide scientific basis for the soil conservation and sustainable development of the area.[Methods] The silt-sized (38~63 μm) quartz optically stimulated luminescence single-aliquot regenerative (SAR) dose protocol was used to obtain the OSL ages of parent material layer at the bottom of 10 different soil profiles. The soil particle size was measured by Malvern 2000.The content of soil organic matter was determined by potassium dichromate-sulfuric acid digestion.[Results] ① The soil was mainly composed of silt (account for 85%), and the average grain size was ranged between 14 and 37 μm. The content of soil organic matter was between 13.1 and 41.1 g/kg, and the average value was 27.2 g/kg. ② Soil in the source area of the Yellow River mainly developed since late Holocene, especially since the near 2000 years. ③ In this region, the average thickness of soil profile was (0.46±0.05) m, and the average dust accumulation rate was (16±0.07) m/km².[Conclusion] The remarkable characteristics of the modern soil in source area of the Yellow River included thin soil layer and relatively high storage of organic carbon. As a sequence, the formation and development of soils mainly occurred in in a relatively dry and cold climate condition of late Holocene, and the development model was mainly aeolian dust aggradation.