This　paper　presents　a　method　for　reconstructing　denudation　in　sedimentary　basins.　The　principle　of　this　method　is　to　use　the　Kaiser　effect　involving　the　acoustic　emission　(AE)　of　rock　samples　under　a　uniaxial　load　test.　Based　on　the　proposed　method,　the　denudation　thickness　since　the　Late　Cretaceous　period　in　the　southeastern　margin　of　the　Ordos　Basin　in　China　was　estimated.　The　results　showed　that　the　denudation　increased　gradually　from　the　northwest　(1600　m　a.s.l)　to　the　southeast　(1800　m　a.s.l)　of　the　study　area.　A　comparison　of　the　denudation　results　with　those　obtained　from　other　methods　illustrated　that　the　AE　method　was　reliable　and　easy　to　use.　Finally,　using　computer　simulation,　we　analyzed　the　influence　of　strata　denudation　and　ground　topography　on　the　current　in　situ　stress.　The　results　suggested　that　due　to　the　denudation,　the　horizontal　stress　played　a　dominant　role　in　the　distribution　of　the　in　situ　stress　of　the　study　area,　but　the　in　situ　stress　could　be　reduced　by　the　uplifted　movement　of　the　ground.　The　analysis　could　facilitate　future　applications　of　the　AE　method　and　improve　understanding　of　the　basin　stress　field.