The NATO Advanced Study Institute "Paleorift Systems with Emphasis on the Permian Oslo Rift" was held at Sundvollen near Oslo, Norway, 26. July - 5. August, 1977. The meeting included 6 field trips to various parts of the Oslo Region. 70 official participants and 16 observers from 14 countries attended the meeting. The majority of the invited lectures and short research papers and progress reports presented at the meeting are published in two volumes of which this is volume No. I. Lists of content for both volumes are presently included. The guide to the field trips is being published in the Norwegian Geological Survey Series (1978). Oslo, 10. November 1977. Else-Ragnhild Neumann Ivar B. Ramberg Organizing Committee members: O. Eldholm Geological Institute, University G. Grcentsnlie of Oslo J. Naterstad I.B. Ramberg (chairman) Mineralogical-Geological Museum, J.A. Dons B.T. Larsen (secretary) University of Oslo E.-R. Neumann (secretary) K.S. Heier (chairman) Norwegian Geological Survey S. Huseby B. Sundvoll Seismological Observatory, University M.A. Sellevoll of Bergen Geophysics Institute, University of K. Storetvedt Bergen Geological Institute, University of P.M. Ihlen Trondheim Chr. Oftedahl F.M. Vokes NORSAR, 2007 Kjeller E.S. Husebye This volume is Scientific Report No. 39 of the Geodynamics project. The Geodynamics project is an international programme of research on the dynamics and dynamic history of the Earth with emphasis on deep-seated foundations of geological phenomen