The Holocene Epoch refers to the geological period that began around 11,700 years ago and continues to the present day. While this term is commonly used in scientific literature, there are some alternative synonyms that can be used to refer to this period of Earth's history. For example, the Holocene is sometimes referred to as the "Recent epoch", as it is the most recent epoch in geological time. Other synonyms include the "Post-glacial epoch" or the "Anthropocene epoch", the latter of which refers to the significant influence that humans have had on the environment and ecosystems during this time period.