This paper presents a review of the evidence concerning the age and status of the Basal Gneiss Complex of north-west southern Norway. There seems little doubt that both 'Caledonized' Pre-Eocambrian basement rocks and Eocambrian-Lower Palaeozoic cover rocks occur within this complex, although it is extremely difficult to discriminate between them in the field. It is suggested that occurrences of eclogites, granulites and calcic anorthosites in this region may be restricted to the Pre-Eocambrian basement, and hence may provide the most reliable means of distinguishing between basement and cover rocks in the field.