diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index dd89109..617e507 100755
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -164,6 +164,7 @@ Deeper reading: [WALL_FORENSICS](docs/WALL_FORENSICS.md) (per-challenge misses),
 |---|---|
 | [FEATURES.md](FEATURES.md) | feature-by-feature status (`[x]` shipped / `[~]` partial / `[ ]` planned) |
 | [SCOPE_AND_AUTHORIZATION](docs/SCOPE_AND_AUTHORIZATION.md) | authority model, scope receipts, evidence and retest rules |
+| [VERIFIED_PROVENANCE](docs/VERIFIED_PROVENANCE.md) | how findings become tool-proven instead of model-asserted |
 | [TEAM_PREVIEW](docs/TEAM_PREVIEW.md) | first-run path and review script |
 | [INSTALL_MATRIX](docs/INSTALL_MATRIX.md) | macOS / Linux readiness table |
 | [ARSENAL_ACTIVATION_PLAN](docs/ARSENAL_ACTIVATION_PLAN.md) | optional external-tool setup |
diff --git a/docs/VERIFIED_PROVENANCE.md b/docs/VERIFIED_PROVENANCE.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1362995
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/VERIFIED_PROVENANCE.md
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+# Verified Provenance
+
+T3MP3ST is evidence-first: a finding should say whether it is backed by tool
+output, context, or only model reasoning.
+
+If the evidence vault says `Provenance: none` or `model-asserted`, the finding is
+not yet verified. Treat it as a hypothesis until a tool result, retest, or
+operator-supplied artifact backs the claim.
+
+## What Counts As Tool-Proven
+
+A finding becomes tool-proven when all of these are true:
+
+- The agent requests an Arsenal tool.
+- T3MP3ST executes that tool through the harness.
+- The returned output is captured as evidence.
+- The finding records the tool name or evidence reference that supports it.
+
+Final prose from a model is useful analysis, but it is not the same thing as
+tool-backed evidence.
+
+## Keyless And Local-Agent Runs
+
+For keyless runs, connect a local agent in the War Room Settings first: Claude
+Code, Codex, Hermes, or another supported local-agent backend.
+
+The local agent must request tools through T3MP3ST. If it only writes a final
+answer in prose, the harness has no tool output to attach and findings should stay
+unverified/model-asserted.
+
+For a quick sanity check:
+
+1. Start the War Room with `npm run server`.
+2. Connect a local agent in Settings.
+3. Use a local or explicitly authorized target.
+4. Run a harmless reconnaissance path.
+5. Open the evidence/finding view and check that at least one finding cites a
+   tool name and captured output.
+
+If every finding remains `Provenance: none`, the run may still be useful as a
+planning pass, but it did not verify findings through the tool loop.
+
+## Common Reasons Provenance Is Missing
+
+- No API provider or local agent is connected.
+- The chosen agent produced prose instead of a tool request.
+- The tool request could not be parsed by the local-agent/tool-call bridge.
+- The tool was catalog-only, missing locally, or receipt-gated.
+- The target or action was out of scope, so the harness correctly refused it.
+- The final report promoted model analysis before a retest or evidence item was
+  attached.
+
+## Operator Checklist
+
+Before trusting a finding:
+
+- Is there an evidence item?
+- Does the evidence item include tool output, a command result, a screenshot, or
+  another reproducible artifact?
+- Does the finding cite the evidence or tool name?
+- Did any receipt or scope gate apply?
+- Has the claim been retested or falsified?
+
+When in doubt, keep the finding labeled as unverified and queue a retest.