Abstract This article reveals the evolution law of shear creep damage of carbonaceous shale (weak interlayer of slope) under dynamic load from a mechanical perspective by combining indoor experiments and theoretical research. Firstly, a coupled damage variable D BSM was established for the initial damage D 0 and dynamic disturbance shear creep damage D BS of rock mass based on the theory of damage mechanics. Secondly, according to the fractional calculus operator theory and considering the influence of coupled damage variable D BSM on the viscosity coefficient of rock mass in the viscoelasticity and viscoplasticity creep stages, a shear creep damage model of rock mass was established. At the same time, combined with the shear creep test data under the influence of dynamic loads, the damage evolution law of shear creep in carbonaceous shale (weak interlayer of slope) was revealed, and the accuracy of the established shear creep damage model was verified. Finally, the damage evolution law of carbonaceous shale was quantitatively analyzed. Results show that: The shear creep damage model established in this article has unique advantages. The greater the initial damage, the more likely shear creep failure is to occur under the influence of dynamic disturbance and shear creep loads. Dynamic disturbance accelerates the damage of weak interlayers of slope. The cumulative coupling damage of carbonaceous shale (D ma ≤0.18) under dynamic disturbance and multi-stage shear creep loads exhibits an S-like evolution pattern. The shear creep damage mechanism of carbonaceous shale is characterized by obvious initial damage effect, dynamic disturbance damage effect, and stress response characteristics.