Late Holocene expansion of Istorvet ice cap, Liverpool Land, east Greenland

► Deglaciation to the present extent of local ice cap completed by 11,730 cal yr BP. ► Relic plant remains indicate former restricted extent of ice caps in East Greenland. ► Ice cap extents were smaller than present until about AD 1025. ► Local independent Greenland glaciers reached Holocene maximum by AD 1150. ► The Greenland ice sheet may mirror the Holocene growth and decay of local ice caps.