The Holocene was characterised by much reduced glacier extent in Europe compared with the Late Pleistocene. Whilst deglaciation characterised the Early Holocene there were oscillations in glacier extent with several notable advances. However, the end of the Early Holocene and into the Middle Holocene glaciers were at their least extensive of the entire Holocene during the Holocene Thermal Maximum. Towards the end of the Middle Holocene glaciers again expanded with glacier readvances across Europe marking the onset of the Neoglaciation. This continued, albeit with numerous oscillations until a Late Holocene glacial climax at the Little Ice Age, ending only 100-150 years ago. The Twentieth Century saw significant glacier retreat across Europe, although again with notable oscillations such as the glacier advnaces in the Alps in the 1960s and 70s and in Scandinavia into the 1990s. However, the last three decades has seen dramatic glacier retreat across Europe, especially in the Alps, largely in response to rising summer temperatures.