diff --git a/PROJECT_STATE.md b/PROJECT_STATE.md
index f8b26a9b..0a3e6041 100644
--- a/PROJECT_STATE.md
+++ b/PROJECT_STATE.md
@@ -35,8 +35,12 @@
   cache in `embedding-models`, and `embedding-model-init` blocks `core` until
   `qwen3-embedding:0.6b` is present.
 - **Semantic contract.** Internal semantic indexing is fixed to `qwen3-embedding:0.6b`,
-  `1024` dimensions, and cosine distance. Schema-v3 descriptors are operational; schema-v1/v2 descriptors remain `migration_required` until an explicit reviewed migration writes schema version 3. One workspace owns one Qdrant collection, and schema, Evidence, and Memory records
-  coexist inside that collection with payload `kind` separation.
+  `1024` dimensions, and cosine distance. Schema v3 is the only accepted workspace descriptor
+  format. Schema v1 and v2 descriptors are rejected while a candidate snapshot is validated, so
+  activation or a pull fails atomically and leaves the prior valid snapshot active; there is no
+  in-product migrator or automatic conversion. One workspace owns one Qdrant collection, and
+  schema, Evidence, and Memory records coexist inside that collection with payload `kind`
+  separation.
 - **Final review runtime barriers.** Operational routes, retained session pins, and runtime
   rendering now require schema version 3 before resolving bindings, readiness, diagnostics, or
   Pi. Session admission verifies the exact internal Qdrant collection (dimensions, cosine
@@ -53,11 +57,13 @@
   archives exactly one labeled `<project>_qdrant-data` volume and preserves the prior `qdrant`
   running state. `./scripts/vector-restore.sh --project-name <name> --input <file>
   --confirm-project <name>` requires the exact repeated project confirmation, validates manifest
-  and archive safety before stopping `qdrant`, stages rollback content, restores in place, and
-  restarts `qdrant` only if it was previously running. Restore does not migrate legacy workspace
-  descriptors, rename collections, or repair a semantic-index incompatibility. Backup and restore
-  share one atomic Docker-daemon lock per Compose project/Qdrant volume; contenders fail before
-  volume resolution, and cleanup removes the lock only when its ownership labels still match.
+  and archive safety before stopping `qdrant`, stages rollback content, restores semantic storage
+  in place, and restarts `qdrant` only if it was previously running. Recovery requires the registry
+  to already hold a reviewed v3 descriptor revision compatible with the restored collection; the
+  helper does not restore descriptors, rename collections, or repair a semantic-index
+  incompatibility. Backup and restore share one atomic Docker-daemon lock per Compose
+  project/Qdrant volume; contenders fail before volume resolution, and cleanup removes the lock
+  only when its ownership labels still match.
 - **Verification recorded for Task 13 final audit.** On Apple M4 Pro
   (`Darwin 25.5.0`, Docker Server `29.6.2 linux/arm64`), harness pytest passed
   **827 passed / 4 deselected**; backend Vitest passed **477/477** plus TypeScript and build;
@@ -85,9 +91,8 @@
   Windows Docker Desktop startup were not manually executed in this run.
 - **Task 13 known limitations.** Broad harness Ruff remains existing unrelated debt
   (**220 errors**); touched harness files were verified Ruff-clean. The final active-reference
-  audit remains non-empty only in categorized legacy parser/migration compatibility, legacy
-  descriptor/config fixtures, deterministic negative guards, retained off-repository migration
-  SQL, L2 legacy fixtures, gitignored task notes, and historical reference notes. No active
+  audit remains non-empty only in deterministic negative guards, retained off-repository migration
+  SQL, L2 compatibility fixtures, gitignored task notes, and historical reference notes. No active
   schema-v3 operator manual or supported runtime deployment path retains external vector or
   embedding endpoint coupling.
 - **Final review fix verification.** Backend Vitest passed **477/477** plus TypeScript and build;
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a1e0d6d2..847a87d2 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ diagnostics are exposed by `tht doctor` and do not prevent the UI from starting.
 Workspace descriptors are shared through a validated Git repository while endpoint bindings and
 secret files remain installation-local. Use the [local Mac/PC installation manual](docs/install/local-workspace-registry.md)
 for Docker Desktop or a local engine, and the [server installation manual](docs/install/server-workspace-registry.md)
-for the Gitea, reverse-proxy, backup, migration, and recovery workflow. The isolated deployment
+for the Gitea, reverse-proxy, backup, upgrade, and recovery workflow. The isolated deployment
 exercise is `./scripts/workspace-registry-smoke.sh`; both manuals are checked with
 `./scripts/verify-workspace-install-docs.sh --profile local` or `--profile server`.
 
@@ -70,10 +70,12 @@ every revision referenced by an open, closed, or failed unarchived session. It r
 single local installation list or from a server administrator's complete session list, never from
 a remote user's partial list.
 
-Schema-v3 is the operational descriptor contract. Schema-v1/v2 descriptors remain
-`migration_required` until an explicit reviewed migration writes schema version 3. One workspace
-owns one Qdrant collection; schema, Evidence, and Memory records share that collection and stay
-separated by indexed payload `kind`.
+Schema v3 is the only accepted workspace descriptor format. Schema v1 and v2 descriptors are
+rejected while a candidate snapshot is validated, so activation or a pull fails atomically and the
+prior valid snapshot remains active. There is no in-product migrator or automatic conversion. A
+repository must already contain reviewed v3 descriptors. One workspace owns one Qdrant collection;
+schema, Evidence, and Memory records share that collection and stay separated by indexed payload
+`kind`.
 
 Connector `ssh_tunnel` bindings are diagnostic-only in this release: their bounded probe always
 cleans up the loopback forward and returns `workspace_not_activatable`; session creation is rejected
@@ -228,10 +230,11 @@ Compose project name by passing `--confirm-project`:
 
 The restore script stops `qdrant`, validates the exact labeled target, stages the current volume
 contents for rollback, extracts the requested archive into the volume, and then returns the
-service to its prior running state. After restore, run the backend health checks and a known
-retrieval query before reopening write traffic. Restore does not migrate schema-v1/v2 workspace
-descriptors, does not rename collections, and does not reconcile an incompatible collection
-contract; those remain explicit reviewed recovery steps outside the helper.
+service to its prior running state. It restores semantic storage only. Before reopening write
+traffic, the workspace registry must already be at a reviewed v3 descriptor revision compatible
+with the restored collection; then run backend health checks and a known retrieval query. The
+helper does not restore descriptors, rename collections, or reconcile an incompatible collection
+contract.
 
 ## Production trust boundary and secrets
 
diff --git a/docs/install/local-workspace-registry.md b/docs/install/local-workspace-registry.md
index 65b41806..fc2511de 100644
--- a/docs/install/local-workspace-registry.md
+++ b/docs/install/local-workspace-registry.md
@@ -213,8 +213,11 @@ Use `POST /workspace-registry/pull` to fetch later revisions. Run workspace diag
 required DWH bindings are mounted. Schema-v3 diagnostics probe the internal Qdrant/Ollama
 services through backend config; ordinary diagnostics are read-only.
 
-Schema-v3 is the only operational descriptor format. Schema-v1/v2 descriptors remain
-`migration_required` until an explicit reviewed migration writes schema version 3. One workspace owns one Qdrant collection; schema, Evidence, and Memory records share that collection and remain
+Schema v3 is the only accepted workspace descriptor format. Schema v1 and v2 descriptors are
+rejected while the candidate snapshot is validated, so bootstrap activation or a pull fails
+atomically and leaves the prior active snapshot unchanged. There is no in-product migrator or
+automatic conversion. The repository must already contain reviewed v3 descriptors. One workspace
+owns one Qdrant collection; schema, Evidence, and Memory records share that collection and remain
 isolated by payload `kind`.
 
 ## Semantic index ownership contract
@@ -223,16 +226,9 @@ isolated by payload `kind`.
 | --- | --- | --- |
 | Workspace semantic index | Each workspace reserves a single Qdrant collection. | Schema, Evidence, and Memory stay in that one collection and remain isolated by payload `kind`. |
 
-To migrate an existing legacy descriptor, create/clone an empty private remote, set the absolute
-`THT_SOURCE_ROOT`, transform with absolute paths, review the schema-v1 result, explicitly produce
-the reviewed schema-v3 contract, then commit/push. The transformer never imports `${ENV}` values
-or secrets.
-
-```sh
-THT_SOURCE_ROOT=/absolute/path/to/ThothII
-npm --prefix "$THT_SOURCE_ROOT/backend" run build
-node "$THT_SOURCE_ROOT/backend/dist/workspaces/migrate-legacy.js" --input /absolute/path/legacy.yaml --output /absolute/path/thoth-workspaces
-```
+If source material needs conversion, perform it outside ThothII in a separate reviewed process.
+Commit only the resulting reviewed v3 descriptors. That external process must not import `${ENV}`
+values, secret values, certificates, keys, or secret files into the repository.
 
 ## Publish, update, backup, outage recovery, and rollback
 
diff --git a/docs/install/server-workspace-registry.md b/docs/install/server-workspace-registry.md
index 6b3bc043..2c72c9a8 100644
--- a/docs/install/server-workspace-registry.md
+++ b/docs/install/server-workspace-registry.md
@@ -60,9 +60,9 @@ use `ssh://git@git.example.invalid/platform/thoth-workspaces.git`. For HTTPS, cr
 machine credential in the secret manager and mount the Gitea/private CA separately. Never use a
 Gitea admin credential in the application.
 
-Bootstrap an empty remote from a temporary review clone: migrate legacy descriptors, review their
-schema-v3 identity and generated artifacts, commit, and push `main`. The running server is not an
-authoring environment for migration.
+Bootstrap an empty remote from a temporary review clone only after its canonical v3 descriptors
+and generated public artifacts have been reviewed; commit and push `main`. The running server is
+not a descriptor authoring or conversion environment.
 
 ## Curator flow for shared-registry Evidence
 
@@ -258,14 +258,16 @@ For upgrades, record active status/head, finish active work, use the documented
 --check-only`, deploy the compatible image through `thothctl`, verify health/status, then resume
 proxy traffic.
 
-For legacy descriptor migration, use a temporary review clone and the legacy transformer with absolute paths.
-Its schema-v1 output is `migration_required`; explicitly supply collection identity, diagnostics,
-and the reviewed v3 contract before commit. Never import `${ENV}` values or
-copy secret files.
+Schema v3 is the only accepted workspace descriptor format. Schema v1 and v2 descriptors are
+rejected while the candidate snapshot is validated, so initial activation or a pull fails
+atomically and leaves the prior active snapshot unchanged. There is no in-product migrator or
+automatic conversion. The repository must already contain reviewed v3 descriptors. One workspace
+owns one Qdrant collection; schema, Evidence, and Memory records share it and stay separated by
+payload `kind`.
 
-Schema-v3 is the only operational descriptor contract. Schema-v1/v2 descriptors remain
-`migration_required` until an explicit reviewed migration writes version 3. One workspace owns one Qdrant collection; schema, Evidence, and Memory records share it and stay separated by payload
-`kind`.
+If source material needs conversion, perform it outside ThothII in a separate reviewed process.
+Commit only the resulting reviewed v3 descriptors. That external process must not import `${ENV}`
+values, secret values, certificates, keys, or secret files into the repository.
 
 ## Semantic index ownership contract
 
@@ -312,9 +314,10 @@ Use the repository helpers for Qdrant backup/restore:
 
 Qdrant backup/restore targets exactly one labeled `qdrant-data` volume for the named Compose
 project. Restore requires the exact repeated project confirmation, validates the archive before
-stopping `qdrant`, stages rollback content, and restores in place only for that project-scoped
-volume. It does not migrate schema-v1/v2 workspaces, rename collections, or resolve semantic-index
-incompatibilities.
+stopping `qdrant`, stages rollback content, and restores semantic storage in place only for that
+project-scoped volume. Before recovery, the registry must already contain a reviewed v3 descriptor
+revision compatible with the restored collection. The helper does not restore descriptors, rename
+collections, or resolve semantic-index incompatibilities.
 
 The Ollama model cache is a recoverable local cache, not the canonical semantic source of truth.
 You may back up `embedding-models` for faster offline recovery, but a cache loss is recoverable by
diff --git a/docs/workspace-diagnostic-protocol.md b/docs/workspace-diagnostic-protocol.md
index e057f934..9cba3bf1 100644
--- a/docs/workspace-diagnostic-protocol.md
+++ b/docs/workspace-diagnostic-protocol.md
@@ -7,9 +7,10 @@ response body belongs in the descriptor, generated `.env.example` files, or diag
 
 ## Scope and safety rules
 
-- The operational descriptor is schema version 3.
-- Schema-v1/v2 descriptors are readable only and remain `migration_required` until an explicit
-  reviewed migration writes schema version 3.
+- Schema v3 is the only accepted workspace descriptor format.
+- Schema v1 and v2 descriptors are rejected before diagnostics run. There is no in-product
+  migrator or automatic conversion; the Git repository must already contain reviewed v3
+  descriptors.
 - One workspace owns one Qdrant collection.
 - Qdrant and Ollama are internal services. Operators do not bind external vector or embedding
   transports for active manuals or supported diagnostics.
diff --git a/scripts/test-verify-workspace-install-docs.sh b/scripts/test-verify-workspace-install-docs.sh
index bd7106bf..1a9073df 100755
--- a/scripts/test-verify-workspace-install-docs.sh
+++ b/scripts/test-verify-workspace-install-docs.sh
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ cat >"$project_state_positive" <<'EOF'
 
 ## Internal Qdrant + Ollama semantic infrastructure — LIVE 2026-08-08
 
-- Schema-v3 descriptors are operational and v1/v2 remain `migration_required`.
+- Schema v3 is the only accepted workspace descriptor format. Schema v1 and v2 descriptors are rejected before activation or diagnostics.
 - One workspace owns one Qdrant collection.
 - Only DWH and LLM remain external runtime application endpoints.
 - The internal stack includes `qdrant`, `embedding`, and `embedding-model-init`.
@@ -223,10 +223,146 @@ cat >"$project_state_positive" <<'EOF'
 
 ### Historical snapshot — previous deployment
 
-- Older notes intentionally live only here.
+- Schema-v2 descriptors were operational and returned `migration_required`.
+- Operators used `migrate-legacy` in this superseded workflow.
 EOF
 verify_project_state_current_contract "$project_state_positive" positive-project-state >/dev/null
 
+project_state_unrelated_migration="$negative_root/project-state-unrelated-migration.md"
+python3 - "$project_state_positive" "$project_state_unrelated_migration" <<'PY'
+import pathlib, sys
+source = pathlib.Path(sys.argv[1]).read_text()
+old = "rejected before activation or diagnostics.\n- One workspace"
+new = (
+    "rejected before activation or diagnostics. The unrelated session database\n"
+    "  upgrade may report `migration_required`.\n- One workspace"
+)
+if source.count(old) != 1:
+    raise SystemExit("PROJECT_STATE positive fixture insertion point not found")
+pathlib.Path(sys.argv[2]).write_text(source.replace(old, new, 1))
+PY
+verify_project_state_current_contract "$project_state_unrelated_migration" \
+  unrelated-current-project-state >/dev/null
+
+generic_unrelated_migration="$negative_root/generic-unrelated-migration.md"
+python3 - "$root/docs/install/local-workspace-registry.md" "$generic_unrelated_migration" <<'PY'
+import pathlib, sys
+source = pathlib.Path(sys.argv[1]).read_text()
+old = "isolated by payload `kind`.\n\n## Semantic index ownership contract"
+new = (
+    "isolated by payload `kind`. The unrelated session database\n"
+    "upgrade may report `migration_required`.\n\n## Semantic index ownership contract"
+)
+if source.count(old) != 1:
+    raise SystemExit("manual positive fixture insertion point not found")
+pathlib.Path(sys.argv[2]).write_text(source.replace(old, new, 1))
+PY
+verify_workspace_descriptor_doc_contract "$generic_unrelated_migration" \
+  unrelated-current-manual >/dev/null
+
+assert_schema_contract_rejected() {
+  local source="$1" label="$2" expected="$3" output="$negative_root/schema-contract-output"
+  set +e
+  verify_workspace_descriptor_doc_contract "$source" "$label" >"$output" 2>&1
+  local status=$?
+  set -e
+  if [[ $status -eq 0 ]] || ! grep -Fq "$expected" "$output"; then
+    echo "$label fixture was not rejected correctly" >&2
+    cat "$output" >&2
+    exit 1
+  fi
+}
+
+project_state_migration_required="$negative_root/project-state-migration-required.md"
+python3 - "$project_state_positive" "$project_state_migration_required" <<'PY'
+import pathlib, sys
+source = pathlib.Path(sys.argv[1]).read_text()
+marker = source.index("## Historical snapshots")
+pathlib.Path(sys.argv[2]).write_text(
+    source[:marker]
+    + "- Schema v1 and v2 descriptors remain\n"
+    + "  `migration_required`.\n\n"
+    + source[marker:]
+)
+PY
+set +e
+verify_project_state_current_contract "$project_state_migration_required" current-migration-required >"$project_state_output" 2>&1
+project_state_status=$?
+set -e
+if [[ $project_state_status -eq 0 ]] || ! grep -Fq "migration_required" "$project_state_output"; then
+  echo "current PROJECT_STATE migration_required fixture was not rejected correctly" >&2
+  cat "$project_state_output" >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+project_state_readable="$negative_root/project-state-readable.md"
+python3 - "$project_state_positive" "$project_state_readable" <<'PY'
+import pathlib, sys
+source = pathlib.Path(sys.argv[1]).read_text()
+source = source.replace(
+    "Schema v1 and v2 descriptors are rejected before activation or diagnostics.",
+    "Schema v1 and v2 descriptors remain readable for operational use.",
+    1,
+)
+pathlib.Path(sys.argv[2]).write_text(source)
+PY
+set +e
+verify_project_state_current_contract "$project_state_readable" current-readable-v1-v2 >"$project_state_output" 2>&1
+project_state_status=$?
+set -e
+if [[ $project_state_status -eq 0 ]] || ! grep -Eq "rejected|readable|operational" "$project_state_output"; then
+  echo "current PROJECT_STATE v1/v2 readability fixture was not rejected correctly" >&2
+  cat "$project_state_output" >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+manual_migration_required="$negative_root/manual-migration-required.md"
+cp "$root/docs/install/local-workspace-registry.md" "$manual_migration_required"
+printf '\nSchema v1 and v2 descriptors remain\n`migration_required`.\n' \
+  >>"$manual_migration_required"
+assert_schema_contract_rejected "$manual_migration_required" manual-migration-required "migration_required"
+
+manual_migrate_legacy="$negative_root/manual-migrate-legacy.md"
+cp "$root/docs/install/local-workspace-registry.md" "$manual_migrate_legacy"
+printf '\nRun `node backend/dist/workspaces/migrate-legacy.js` before activation.\n' >>"$manual_migrate_legacy"
+assert_schema_contract_rejected "$manual_migrate_legacy" manual-migrate-legacy "migrate-legacy"
+
+manual_legacy_procedure="$negative_root/manual-legacy-procedure.md"
+cp "$root/docs/install/server-workspace-registry.md" "$manual_legacy_procedure"
+printf '\nMigrate legacy descriptors in a temporary review clone before activation.\n' >>"$manual_legacy_procedure"
+assert_schema_contract_rejected "$manual_legacy_procedure" manual-legacy-procedure "legacy descriptor procedure"
+
+manual_missing_v3_only="$negative_root/manual-missing-v3-only.md"
+python3 - "$root/docs/install/local-workspace-registry.md" "$manual_missing_v3_only" <<'PY'
+import pathlib, re, sys
+text = pathlib.Path(sys.argv[1]).read_text()
+text = re.sub(
+    r"Schema v3 is the only accepted workspace descriptor format\.",
+    "Schema v3 is accepted as a workspace descriptor format.",
+    text,
+    count=1,
+    flags=re.IGNORECASE,
+)
+pathlib.Path(sys.argv[2]).write_text(text)
+PY
+assert_schema_contract_rejected "$manual_missing_v3_only" manual-missing-v3-only "v3-only acceptance"
+
+diagnostics_readable="$negative_root/diagnostics-readable-v1-v2.md"
+python3 - "$root/docs/workspace-diagnostic-protocol.md" "$diagnostics_readable" <<'PY'
+import pathlib, re, sys
+text = pathlib.Path(sys.argv[1]).read_text()
+text, count = re.subn(
+    r"Schema v1 and v2 descriptors are\s+rejected before diagnostics run\.",
+    "Schema v1 and v2 descriptors remain readable for operational diagnostics.",
+    text,
+    count=1,
+)
+if count != 1:
+    raise SystemExit("diagnostic rejection sentence not found")
+pathlib.Path(sys.argv[2]).write_text(text)
+PY
+assert_schema_contract_rejected "$diagnostics_readable" diagnostics-readable-v1-v2 "v1/v2 rejection"
+
 local_manual_paraphrase="$negative_root/local-manual-paraphrase.md"
 cp "$root/docs/install/local-workspace-registry.md" "$local_manual_paraphrase"
 python3 - "$local_manual_paraphrase" <<'PY'
diff --git a/scripts/verify-workspace-install-docs.sh b/scripts/verify-workspace-install-docs.sh
index b7b41a11..5b0a33e1 100755
--- a/scripts/verify-workspace-install-docs.sh
+++ b/scripts/verify-workspace-install-docs.sh
@@ -105,6 +105,109 @@ for token in tokens:
 PY
 }
 
+verify_descriptor_migration_required_context() {
+  local source="$1" label="$2" scope="${3:-all}"
+  python3 - "$source" "$label" "$scope" <<'PY'
+import pathlib, re, sys
+
+text = pathlib.Path(sys.argv[1]).read_text()
+label = sys.argv[2]
+scope = sys.argv[3]
+if scope == "current":
+    marker = re.search(r"^## Historical snapshots\b", text, re.MULTILINE)
+    if not marker:
+        raise SystemExit(f"{label}: missing Historical snapshots boundary")
+    text = text[:marker.start()]
+elif scope != "all":
+    raise SystemExit(f"{label}: invalid migration_required verifier scope: {scope}")
+
+blocks = []
+current = []
+
+def flush():
+    if current:
+        blocks.append(" ".join(current))
+        current.clear()
+
+boundary = re.compile(r"^(?:#{1,6}\s+|[-*+]\s+|\d+[.)]\s+|>\s+|```|\|)")
+for raw_line in text.splitlines():
+    line = raw_line.strip()
+    if not line:
+        flush()
+        continue
+    if boundary.match(line):
+        flush()
+        line = re.sub(r"^(?:#{1,6}\s+|[-*+]\s+|\d+[.)]\s+|>\s+)", "", line)
+    current.append(line)
+flush()
+
+migration_context = re.compile(
+    r"(?:\bworkspace(?:\s+[a-z0-9_-]+){0,3}\s+descriptors?\b|"
+    r"\bschema(?:[- ]?v?|\s+version\s*)[12]\b|"
+    r"\bv1\s*(?:/|and|or)\s*v2\b)",
+    re.IGNORECASE,
+)
+for block in blocks:
+    normalized = re.sub(r"\s+", " ", block).strip()
+    clauses = (part.strip() for part in re.split(r"(?<=[.!?;])\s+", normalized))
+    for clause in clauses:
+        if "migration_required" in clause.lower() and migration_context.search(clause):
+            raise SystemExit(f"{label}: contains forbidden descriptor migration_required support")
+PY
+}
+
+verify_workspace_descriptor_doc_contract() {
+  local source="$1" label="$2"
+  verify_descriptor_migration_required_context "$source" "$label" || return 1
+  python3 - "$source" "$label" <<'PY'
+import pathlib, re, sys
+
+text = pathlib.Path(sys.argv[1]).read_text()
+label = sys.argv[2]
+
+if not re.search(
+    r"schema[- ]v?3\s+is\s+the\s+only\s+accepted\s+workspace\s+descriptor",
+    text,
+    re.IGNORECASE,
+):
+    raise SystemExit(f"{label}: missing explicit v3-only acceptance contract")
+
+legacy_subject = (
+    r"(?:schema[- ]v?1\s*(?:/|and|or)\s*(?:schema[- ]?)?v?2|"
+    r"schema[- ]v?1/v2|v1/v2)\s+descriptors?"
+)
+if not re.search(
+    legacy_subject + r".{0,100}\brejected\b",
+    text,
+    re.IGNORECASE | re.DOTALL,
+):
+    raise SystemExit(f"{label}: missing explicit v1/v2 rejection contract")
+
+forbidden_literals = {
+    "migrate-legacy": "migrate-legacy",
+    "legacy transformer": "deleted legacy transformer instruction",
+    "backend/dist/workspaces/migrate-legacy.js": "deleted transformer path",
+}
+for token, description in forbidden_literals.items():
+    if token in text.lower():
+        raise SystemExit(f"{label}: contains forbidden {description}")
+if re.search(
+    r"(?:\bmigrat(?:e|ing)\s+legacy\s+descriptors?\b|\blegacy\s+descriptor\s+migration\b)",
+    text,
+    re.IGNORECASE,
+):
+    raise SystemExit(f"{label}: contains forbidden legacy descriptor procedure")
+
+legacy_support = [
+    legacy_subject + r".{0,100}\b(?:remain|are|stay)\b.{0,40}\b(?:readable|operational|supported|accepted)\b",
+    r"schema[- ]v?[12]\s+descriptors?.{0,100}\b(?:remain|are|stay)\b.{0,40}\b(?:readable|operational|supported|accepted)\b",
+]
+for pattern in legacy_support:
+    if re.search(pattern, text, re.IGNORECASE | re.DOTALL):
+        raise SystemExit(f"{label}: v1/v2 rejection contradicted by readable or operational support")
+PY
+}
+
 verify_markdown_table_relationships() {
   local source="$1" label="$2" heading="$3" spec_json="$4"
   python3 - "$source" "$label" "$heading" "$spec_json" <<'PY'
@@ -588,6 +691,7 @@ verify_vector_helper_interfaces() {
 verify_project_state_current_contract() {
   local source="${1:-$root/PROJECT_STATE.md}"
   local label="${2:-PROJECT_STATE.md}"
+  verify_descriptor_migration_required_context "$source" "$label current section" current || return 1
   python3 - "$source" "$label" <<'PY'
 import pathlib, re, sys
 text = pathlib.Path(sys.argv[1]).read_text()
@@ -599,10 +703,30 @@ current = text[:marker.start()]
 historical = text[marker.start():]
 if not re.search(r"Internal Qdrant \+ Ollama semantic infrastructure", current, re.MULTILINE):
     raise SystemExit(f"{label}: current section missing internal semantic snapshot heading")
-if not re.search(r"Schema-v3 descriptors are operational", current, re.MULTILINE):
-    raise SystemExit(f"{label}: current section must say schema-v3 is operational")
-if "migration_required" not in current:
-    raise SystemExit(f"{label}: current section must mention migration_required")
+if "migrate-legacy" in current.lower():
+    raise SystemExit(f"{label}: current section contains forbidden migrate-legacy instruction")
+if not re.search(
+    r"schema[- ]v?3\s+is\s+the\s+only\s+accepted\s+workspace\s+descriptor",
+    current,
+    re.IGNORECASE,
+):
+    raise SystemExit(f"{label}: current section lacks explicit v3-only acceptance contract")
+legacy_subject = (
+    r"(?:schema[- ]v?1\s*(?:/|and|or)\s*(?:schema[- ]?)?v?2|"
+    r"schema[- ]v?1/v2|v1/v2)\s+descriptors?"
+)
+if not re.search(
+    legacy_subject + r".{0,100}\brejected\b",
+    current,
+    re.IGNORECASE | re.DOTALL,
+):
+    raise SystemExit(f"{label}: current section lacks explicit v1/v2 rejection contract")
+for pattern in [
+    legacy_subject + r".{0,100}\b(?:remain|are|stay)\b.{0,40}\b(?:readable|operational|supported|accepted)\b",
+    r"schema[- ]v?[12]\s+descriptors?.{0,100}\b(?:remain|are|stay)\b.{0,40}\b(?:readable|operational|supported|accepted)\b",
+]:
+    if re.search(pattern, current, re.IGNORECASE | re.DOTALL):
+        raise SystemExit(f"{label}: current section contains contradictory active text: v1/v2 readable or operational support")
 if not re.search(r"\b(one|single)\b.*\bworkspace\b.*\b(one|single)\b.*\bQdrant\b.*\bcollection\b", current, re.IGNORECASE | re.DOTALL):
     raise SystemExit(f"{label}: current section must describe one-workspace/one-collection ownership")
 if not re.search(r"\bDWH\b", current) or not re.search(r"\bLLM\b", current):
@@ -640,6 +764,10 @@ verify_internal_semantic_infrastructure_docs() {
   verify_workspace_descriptor_semantic_contract "$root/deploy/workspaces/psd.yaml.example" "psd workspace example" || return 1
   verify_vector_helper_interfaces || return 1
   verify_project_state_current_contract "$root/PROJECT_STATE.md" "PROJECT_STATE.md" || return 1
+  verify_workspace_descriptor_doc_contract "$readme" "README" || return 1
+  verify_workspace_descriptor_doc_contract "$local_manual" "local workspace manual" || return 1
+  verify_workspace_descriptor_doc_contract "$server_manual" "server workspace manual" || return 1
+  verify_workspace_descriptor_doc_contract "$diagnostics" "workspace diagnostic protocol" || return 1
 
   local ownership_spec semantic_index_spec compact_spec
   ownership_spec='{"rows":[
@@ -670,13 +798,12 @@ verify_internal_semantic_infrastructure_docs() {
   require_pattern "$agents" "AGENTS.md" 'DWH and LLM remain external configuration endpoints' || return 1
   for manual in "$local_manual" "$server_manual"; do
     require_pattern "$manual" "$(basename "$manual")" 'qwen3-embedding:0\.6b' || return 1
-    require_pattern "$manual" "$(basename "$manual")" 'migration_required' || return 1
   done
   require_pattern "$local_manual" "local workspace manual" 'CPU-first' || return 1
   require_pattern "$local_manual" "local workspace manual" 'THOTH_ENABLE_EMBEDDING_GPU=1' || return 1
   require_pattern "$server_manual" "server workspace manual" 'Qdrant backup/restore' || return 1
   require_pattern "$compact_manual" "four-context install note" '1024 dimensioni' || return 1
-  require_pattern "$diagnostics" "workspace diagnostic protocol" 'schema version 3' || return 1
+  require_pattern "$diagnostics" "workspace diagnostic protocol" 'Schema v1 and v2 descriptors.+rejected before diagnostics' || return 1
   require_pattern "$diagnostics" "workspace diagnostic protocol" 'semantic_index_incompatible' || return 1
   require_absent "$diagnostics" "workspace diagnostic protocol" \
     'engine: pgvector' \