Abstract NE–SW- and north–south-striking dykes were emplaced into ultrahigh-temperature (UHT) granulites apparently after UHT metamorphism in the Mt. Riiser-Larsen area of the Archaean Napier Complex, East Antarctica, of which the north–south-striking dykes interrupt the NE–SW-striking ones. The NE–SW-striking dykes are tholeiite basalt (THB) and high-magnesian andesite (HMA) in composition. The THB dykes display relict doleritic textures, whereas the HMA dykes shows blastoporphyritic textures characterized by phenocrysts of clinopyroxene and plagioclase. Both sets of dykes exhibit large ion lithophile element and light rare earth element enrichment and negative anomalies of Nb, Ti and/or P in a spider diagram normalized to primitive mantle, which is reminiscent of modern subduction-related arc volcanism or continental flood volcanism. The isotope ratios of the THB dykes define isochron ages of 2.0–1.9 Ga: 1979±80 Ma in the Rb–Sr system (initial ratio ( I 0 ): 0.70239±0.00035) and 2078±104 Ma in the Sm–Nd system ( I 0 : 0.50964±0.00012). Such moderate 87 Sr/ 86 Sr and low 143 Nd/ 144 Nd initial ratios may represent source materials closely related to the mantle wedge of a subduction zone. The north–south-striking dykes are compositionally divided into two basalt types. One is an alkaline basalt (AL) showing intergranular texture and characterized by high concentrations of incompatible elements, similar to those of ocean island basalt. They yield an isochron age of c. 1.2 Ga: 1161±238 Ma in the Rb–Sr system ( I 0 : 0.7047±0.0012). The other type (THB-m) is doleritic (ophitic) in texture, and has a tholeiitic affinity with a flat chondrite-normalized REE pattern, which is comparable with that of enriched mid-ocean ridge basalt. A comparison with dykes reported from other areas of the Napier Complex suggests that the north–south-striking dykes occur in restricted areas, whereas the NE–SW-striking dykes are more regional in occurrence. The 2.0–1.9 Ga magmatism of the NE–SW-striking dykes may have been related to the formation of continental crust of the Rayner Complex.