Metasediments from two contrasting types of Archean high-grade terrains are interpreted as being derived from distinct tectonic settings. The Kapuskasing Structural Zone, Canada, represents the deep roots of a typical greenstone belt, whereas the Limpopo Province, southern Africa and Western Gneiss Terrain, Australia, mainly consist of shelf sediments deposited on a granitic basement and then buried to the depths required for granulite fades metamorphism. Upper amphibolite to granulite fades paragneisses from the Kapuskasing Structural Zone have REE patterns similar to those of greenstone belt sediments, except where partial melting has occurred, forming restites with Eu enrichment and melts with Eu depletion. Except in this latter instance, metamorphism has not affected the primary REE patterns. REE patterns in Archean upper amphibolite to granulite facies metasediments from the central Limpopo Province and Western Gneiss Terrain show wide differences, ranging from patterns which resemble those in post-Archean terrigenous sediments, to typical Archean sedimentary rock patterns. The diversity in REE patterns for these shallow shelf metasediments is interpreted as resulting from derivation from local provenances. Samples with “post-Archean” patterns, displaying Eu depletion, are interpreted as being derived from K-rich granitic plutons which were portions of small, stable early Archean terrains, precursors of the widespread late Archean-Proterozoic episode of major cratonic development.