It is accepted by the International Commission on Stratigraphy that the Holocene started approximately 11,650 cal years BP (9,700 BCE). The Subcommission on Quaternary Stratigraphy (SQS) observes the terms ‘recent’ to be an incorrect way of referring to the Holocene, and the term ‘modern’ may be used instead to describe current processes. It also observes the term ‘Flandrian’ may be used as a synonym for Holocene, although it is becoming outdated. The Inter…