Late-Holocene advance of the Collins Ice Cap, King George Island, South Shetland Islands

Radiocarbon dates of incorporated moss indicate advance of the Collins Ice Cap on Fildes Peninsula (King George Island) after ~650 cal. yr BP (~AD 1300), broadly contemporaneous with the `Little Ice Age', as defined in Europe. During that time, the glacier extended less than 400—500 m beyond its present-day margin. Moreover, radiocarbon data indicate that this was the most extensive advance of the last 3500 cal. years. Prior to ~650 cal. yr BP, the ice must have been at or behind its present position. Furthermore, the data indicate that climate conditions prior to the late-Holocene advance may have been similar to (or possibly warmer than) today.