diff --git a/docs/roadmap/implementation.md b/docs/roadmap/implementation.md
index e3d1da9..073d427 100644
--- a/docs/roadmap/implementation.md
+++ b/docs/roadmap/implementation.md
@@ -211,6 +211,14 @@ Run the everyday checker.
 
 ## Stage 5 — Integrate historical inspection
 
+**Completed 2026-09-29.** Source replay stays at original paths, followed by
+projected structural control/transfer events before typed reconciliation and
+application resolution. History and explanations preserve consumed/cancelled
+directives, equal-valued child replacements, displaced descendants, nested
+destination results, and parent source updates. Shared retained evidence is
+counted with a bounded incremental check; focused tests and `./scripts/check.sh`
+passed. Public loading remains unchanged.
+
 Extend `history.go`, `load_metadata.go`, `explain.go`, and explanation rendering.
 Retain original source applications; represent structural expansion separately,
 between source replay and canonical decoding, followed by recorded application
diff --git a/internal/engine/explain.go b/internal/engine/explain.go
index 07c6411..b78720a 100644
--- a/internal/engine/explain.go
+++ b/internal/engine/explain.go
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@ func (r *Inspection) Explain(path Path) (Explanation, bool) {
 			Origin: historyApplicationOrigin(application, operationPath),
 		})
 	}
+	appendInheritanceExplanation(&explanation, &working, path, r.inheritance, r.secrets)
 
 	// Intermediate input replacements do not permanently suppress defaults:
 	// decoding applies them to the final input tree. Show that reconciliation
diff --git a/internal/engine/explain_render.go b/internal/engine/explain_render.go
index 52f231f..4b73cb6 100644
--- a/internal/engine/explain_render.go
+++ b/internal/engine/explain_render.go
@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@ func (r *Inspection) WriteExplanation(output io.Writer, path Path) error {
 		rendered.WriteString("  - representation: ")
 		if change.Origin.Operation == ChangeDecoding {
 			rendered.WriteString("input to canonical typed\n")
+		} else if change.Origin.Operation == ChangeInheritance {
+			rendered.WriteString("structural inheritance\n")
 		} else if change.Origin.Layer == LayerBase || change.Origin.Layer == LayerUnderlay || change.Origin.Layer == LayerOverlay || change.Origin.Layer == LayerCLI {
 			rendered.WriteString("policy-validated input\n")
 		} else {
@@ -91,6 +93,15 @@ func writeExplanationOrigin(output *strings.Builder, label string, origin Origin
 		output.WriteString(strconv.Itoa(location.Column))
 		output.WriteByte('\n')
 	}
+	for _, step := range origin.Inheritance {
+		output.WriteString("      inherited: from=")
+		output.WriteString(strconv.Quote(step.From.String()))
+		output.WriteString(" to=")
+		output.WriteString(strconv.Quote(step.To.String()))
+		output.WriteString(" reference=")
+		output.WriteString(strconv.Quote(step.Reference.String()))
+		output.WriteByte('\n')
+	}
 }
 
 func writeExplanationSnapshot(output *strings.Builder, label string, snapshot ValueSnapshot, indent int) {
diff --git a/internal/engine/history.go b/internal/engine/history.go
index f0aa152..73e30d7 100644
--- a/internal/engine/history.go
+++ b/internal/engine/history.go
@@ -6,6 +6,40 @@ import (
 
 const historyNodeLimit = 4_000_000
 
+type retainedNodeCounter struct {
+	seen  map[*document.Node]bool
+	count int
+	limit int
+}
+
+func newRetainedNodeCounter(limit int) *retainedNodeCounter {
+	return &retainedNodeCounter{seen: make(map[*document.Node]bool), limit: limit}
+}
+
+func (c *retainedNodeCounter) add(root *document.Node) bool {
+	if c == nil {
+		return true
+	}
+	stack := []*document.Node{root}
+	for len(stack) != 0 {
+		node := stack[len(stack)-1]
+		stack = stack[:len(stack)-1]
+		if node == nil || c.seen[node] {
+			continue
+		}
+		c.seen[node] = true
+		c.count++
+		if c.limit >= 0 && c.count > c.limit {
+			return false
+		}
+		for _, entry := range node.Mapping {
+			stack = append(stack, entry.Value)
+		}
+		stack = append(stack, node.Sequence...)
+	}
+	return true
+}
+
 // History applications borrow immutable policy-validated input trees. Metadata
 // records answer presence and origin queries; replay reconstructs value changes.
 // Replay reconciles with canonical decoding before domain resolution so both
@@ -230,11 +264,11 @@ func replaceHistoryPath(root **document.Node, path Path, replacement *document.N
 	}
 }
 
-func historyNodesWithinLimit(baseline, input, final *document.Node, applications []historyApplication, resolutions []resolutionSnapshot) bool {
-	return historyNodesWithin(historyNodeLimit, baseline, input, final, applications, resolutions)
+func historyNodesWithinLimit(baseline, input, final *document.Node, applications []historyApplication, resolutions []resolutionSnapshot, inherited ...*inheritanceScope) bool {
+	return historyNodesWithin(historyNodeLimit, baseline, input, final, applications, resolutions, inherited...)
 }
 
-func historyNodesWithin(limit int, baseline, input, final *document.Node, applications []historyApplication, resolutions []resolutionSnapshot) bool {
+func historyNodesWithin(limit int, baseline, input, final *document.Node, applications []historyApplication, resolutions []resolutionSnapshot, inherited ...*inheritanceScope) bool {
 	seen := make(map[*document.Node]bool)
 	count := 0
 	var visit func(*document.Node) bool
@@ -272,5 +306,23 @@ func historyNodesWithin(limit int, baseline, input, final *document.Node, applic
 			return false
 		}
 	}
+	for _, expansion := range inherited {
+		if expansion == nil {
+			continue
+		}
+		if !visit(expansion.root) {
+			return false
+		}
+		for _, operation := range expansion.operations {
+			if !visit(operation.parent) || !visit(operation.effective) {
+				return false
+			}
+		}
+		for _, replacement := range expansion.replacements {
+			if !visit(replacement.before) || !visit(replacement.after) {
+				return false
+			}
+		}
+	}
 	return true
 }
diff --git a/internal/engine/inheritance.go b/internal/engine/inheritance.go
index 7e554b3..ff0e442 100644
--- a/internal/engine/inheritance.go
+++ b/internal/engine/inheritance.go
@@ -29,6 +29,17 @@ type inheritanceScope struct {
 	transfers    []inheritanceTransfer
 	controls     []inheritanceControl
 	replacements []inheritanceReplacement
+	operations   []inheritanceOperation
+}
+
+type inheritanceOperation struct {
+	control          *inheritanceControl
+	transfer         *inheritanceTransfer
+	controlOrigin    Origin
+	parent           *document.Node
+	effective        *document.Node
+	parentOrigins    map[string]Origin
+	effectiveOrigins map[string]Origin
 }
 
 // A replacement retains the displaced source/derivation record while the
@@ -73,7 +84,7 @@ func expandSiblingDefinitionsWithLimits(scope *document.Node, scopePath Path, li
 	return expandSiblingDefinitionsWithOrigins(scope, scopePath, limits, nil)
 }
 
-func expandSiblingDefinitionsWithOrigins(scope *document.Node, scopePath Path, limits projectionLimits, inputOrigins map[string]Origin) (*inheritanceScope, []Diagnostic) {
+func expandSiblingDefinitionsWithOrigins(scope *document.Node, scopePath Path, limits projectionLimits, inputOrigins map[string]Origin, budget ...*retainedNodeCounter) (*inheritanceScope, []Diagnostic) {
 	if scope == nil || scope.Kind != document.Mapping {
 		return nil, []Diagnostic{{
 			Code: CodeInheritanceInvalid, Severity: SeverityError, Path: scopePath,
@@ -93,6 +104,10 @@ func expandSiblingDefinitionsWithOrigins(scope *document.Node, scopePath Path, l
 	resolvedOrigins := make(map[string]map[string]Origin, len(byName))
 	state := make(map[string]uint8, len(byName))
 	result := &inheritanceScope{}
+	counter := newRetainedNodeCounter(historyNodeLimit)
+	if len(budget) != 0 {
+		counter = budget[0]
+	}
 	retained := 1 // scope mapping node
 	for _, entry := range scope.Mapping {
 		if entry.Value.Kind == document.Mapping {
@@ -159,7 +174,19 @@ func expandSiblingDefinitionsWithOrigins(scope *document.Node, scopePath Path, l
 			}
 
 			payload := withoutInheritanceDirective(entry.Value)
+			operationStart, replacementStart := len(result.operations), len(result.replacements)
 			childOrigins := directInheritanceOrigins(payload, path, inputOrigins)
+			if reference, found := inheritanceDirective(entry.Value); found {
+				control := inheritanceControl{
+					path:      path.Key(inheritanceKey),
+					locations: []Location{publicLocation(reference.Value.Location)},
+					cancelled: reference.Value.Kind == document.Null,
+				}
+				controlOrigins := directInheritanceOrigins(reference.Value, control.path, inputOrigins)
+				result.operations = append(result.operations, inheritanceOperation{
+					control: &control, controlOrigin: controlOrigins[control.path.String()],
+				})
+			}
 			if limits.nodes >= 0 {
 				remaining := limits.nodes - retained - 1 // the sibling key
 				within := false
@@ -203,12 +230,26 @@ func expandSiblingDefinitionsWithOrigins(scope *document.Node, scopePath Path, l
 				resolved[frame.name] = merged
 				resolvedOrigins[frame.name] = mergedOrigins
 				result.transfers = append(result.transfers, transfer)
+				result.operations = append(result.operations, inheritanceOperation{
+					transfer: &transfer, parent: parent, effective: merged,
+					parentOrigins: resolvedOrigins[frame.parent], effectiveOrigins: mergedOrigins,
+				})
 			} else {
 				resolved[frame.name] = document.Clone(payload)
 				resolvedOrigins[frame.name] = childOrigins
 			}
 			count, _ := inheritanceLowerBoundCount(resolved[frame.name], limits.nodes)
 			retained += 1 + count
+			for _, operation := range result.operations[operationStart:] {
+				if !counter.add(operation.parent) || !counter.add(operation.effective) {
+					return nil, []Diagnostic{inheritanceHistoryBudgetDiagnostic(path, entry.Value.Location)}
+				}
+			}
+			for _, replacement := range result.replacements[replacementStart:] {
+				if !counter.add(replacement.before) || !counter.add(replacement.after) {
+					return nil, []Diagnostic{inheritanceHistoryBudgetDiagnostic(path, entry.Value.Location)}
+				}
+			}
 			state[frame.name] = 2
 			stack = stack[:len(stack)-1]
 		}
diff --git a/internal/engine/inheritance_explain.go b/internal/engine/inheritance_explain.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5fd5467
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/engine/inheritance_explain.go
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+package engine
+
+import "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/internal/document"
+
+func appendInheritanceExplanation(explanation *Explanation, working **document.Node, query Path, operations []inheritanceOperation, secrets map[string]bool) {
+	for _, operation := range operations {
+		changes := projectedInheritanceChanges(query, operation)
+		if operation.control != nil {
+			if !pathsIntersect(operation.control.path, query) {
+				continue
+			}
+			before := valueSnapshot(*working, query, secrets)
+			replaceHistoryPath(working, operation.control.path, nil)
+			after := valueSnapshot(*working, query, secrets)
+			if len(changes) != 0 {
+				explanation.History = append(explanation.History, ValueChange{
+					Before: before, After: after, Origin: cloneOrigin(changes[0].Origin),
+					Dependencies: clonePaths(changes[0].Dependencies),
+				})
+			}
+			continue
+		}
+		if operation.transfer == nil {
+			continue
+		}
+		before := valueSnapshot(*working, query, secrets)
+		replaceHistoryPath(working, operation.transfer.to, operation.parent)
+		afterParent := valueSnapshot(*working, query, secrets)
+		parent, parentPresent := transferredOperationOrigin(operation, operationPathForQuery(operation.transfer.to, query))
+		if pathsIntersect(operation.transfer.to, query) && parentPresent {
+			parent.Operation = ChangeInheritance
+			parent.Inheritance = projectInheritanceSteps(parent)
+			explanation.History = append(explanation.History, ValueChange{
+				Before: before, After: afterParent, Origin: parent,
+				Dependencies: []Path{operation.transfer.from.clone(), operation.transfer.reference.clone()},
+			})
+		}
+		replaceHistoryPath(working, operation.transfer.to, operation.effective)
+		if !pathsIntersect(operation.transfer.to, query) {
+			continue
+		}
+		afterChild := valueSnapshot(*working, query, secrets)
+		if len(changes) != 0 {
+			last := changes[len(changes)-1]
+			if !parentPresent || len(changes) > 1 {
+				explanation.History = append(explanation.History, ValueChange{
+					Before: afterParent, After: afterChild, Origin: cloneOrigin(last.Origin),
+					Dependencies: clonePaths(last.Dependencies),
+				})
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func operationPathForQuery(root, query Path) Path {
+	if pathContains(query, root) {
+		return root
+	}
+	return query
+}
diff --git a/internal/engine/inheritance_history.go b/internal/engine/inheritance_history.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b68b065
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/engine/inheritance_history.go
@@ -0,0 +1,119 @@
+package engine
+
+import "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/internal/document"
+
+// Retain source history at original paths. Structural operations are held once
+// per relationship and projected onto a requested destination path only when
+// History or Explain is queried.
+func applyInheritanceMetadata(metadata *Metadata, raw *document.Node, rawOrigins map[string]Origin, overlays []overlayRecord, expansion *inheritanceScope) {
+	if metadata == nil || expansion == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	sourceView := Metadata{
+		fields:  make(map[string]FieldInfo),
+		history: metadata.history,
+	}
+	walkDocument(raw, Path{}, func(path Path, node *document.Node) {
+		origin, found := rawOrigins[path.String()]
+		if !found {
+			origin = Origin{Layer: LayerBase, Locations: []Location{publicLocation(node.Location)}}
+		}
+		sourceView.fields[path.String()] = FieldInfo{Explicit: true, Null: node.Kind == document.Null, Origin: cloneOrigin(origin)}
+	})
+	applyOverlayMetadata(&sourceView, overlays)
+	metadata.history = sourceView.history
+	metadata.inheritance = append([]inheritanceOperation(nil), expansion.operations...)
+}
+
+func historyWithInheritance(path Path, stored []Change, operations []inheritanceOperation) []Change {
+	split := len(stored)
+	for index, change := range stored {
+		if change.Origin.Layer == LayerResolution {
+			split = index
+			break
+		}
+	}
+	history := cloneChanges(stored[:split])
+	for _, operation := range operations {
+		for _, change := range projectedInheritanceChanges(path, operation) {
+			if len(history) != 0 {
+				change.Previous = []Origin{cloneOrigin(history[len(history)-1].Origin)}
+			}
+			history = append(history, change)
+		}
+	}
+	for _, change := range stored[split:] {
+		cloned := cloneChange(change)
+		if len(history) != 0 {
+			cloned.Previous = []Origin{cloneOrigin(history[len(history)-1].Origin)}
+		}
+		history = append(history, cloned)
+	}
+	return history
+}
+
+func projectedInheritanceChanges(query Path, operation inheritanceOperation) []Change {
+	if operation.control != nil {
+		if !pathsIntersect(operation.control.path, query) {
+			return nil
+		}
+		origin := cloneOrigin(operation.controlOrigin)
+		origin.Operation = ChangeInheritance
+		origin.Inheritance = projectInheritanceSteps(origin)
+		return []Change{{Path: operation.control.path.clone(), Origin: origin,
+			Dependencies: []Path{operation.control.path.clone()}}}
+	}
+	if operation.transfer == nil || !pathsIntersect(operation.transfer.to, query) {
+		return nil
+	}
+	path := query
+	if pathContains(query, operation.transfer.to) {
+		path = operation.transfer.to
+	}
+	var changes []Change
+	parent, parentFound := transferredOperationOrigin(operation, path)
+	if parentFound {
+		parent.Operation = ChangeInheritance
+		parent.Inheritance = projectInheritanceSteps(parent)
+		changes = append(changes, Change{
+			Path: path.clone(), Origin: parent,
+			Dependencies: []Path{operation.transfer.from.clone(), operation.transfer.reference.clone()},
+		})
+	}
+	effective, effectiveFound := operation.effectiveOrigins[path.String()]
+	if effectiveFound {
+		effective = cloneOrigin(effective)
+		effective.Operation = ChangeInheritance
+	}
+	if effectiveFound && (!parentFound || !originContainedBy(effective, parent)) {
+		effective.Inheritance = projectInheritanceSteps(effective)
+		changes = append(changes, Change{
+			Path: path.clone(), Origin: effective,
+			Dependencies: []Path{operation.transfer.reference.clone()},
+		})
+	} else if parentFound && !effectiveFound {
+		removed := cloneOrigin(operation.effectiveOrigins[operation.transfer.to.String()])
+		removed.Operation = ChangeInheritance
+		removed.Inheritance = projectInheritanceSteps(removed)
+		changes = append(changes, Change{
+			Path: operation.transfer.to.clone(), Origin: removed,
+			Dependencies: []Path{operation.transfer.reference.clone()},
+		})
+	}
+	return changes
+}
+
+func transferredOperationOrigin(operation inheritanceOperation, destination Path) (Origin, bool) {
+	relative, ok := relativeHistoryPath(operation.transfer.to, destination)
+	if !ok {
+		return Origin{}, false
+	}
+	source := appendInheritancePath(operation.transfer.from, relative)
+	origin, found := operation.parentOrigins[source.String()]
+	if !found {
+		return Origin{}, false
+	}
+	transferred := transferredInheritanceOrigins(map[string]Origin{source.String(): origin},
+		operation.transfer.from, operation.transfer.to, *operation.transfer)
+	return transferred[destination.String()], true
+}
diff --git a/internal/engine/inheritance_history_test.go b/internal/engine/inheritance_history_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5727d09
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/engine/inheritance_history_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,271 @@
+package engine
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/internal/document"
+)
+
+func inheritanceInspectionForTest(t *testing.T, sources ...*document.Node) (*Inspection, *inheritanceScope) {
+	t.Helper()
+	composed, diagnostics := composeDocuments(sources...)
+	if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+		t.Fatal(diagnostics)
+	}
+	return inheritanceInspectionFromComposition(t, composed)
+}
+
+func inheritanceInspectionFromComposition(t *testing.T, composed *composedDocument) (*Inspection, *inheritanceScope) {
+	t.Helper()
+	expanded, diagnostics := expandInheritanceWithOrigins(composed.root, composed.origins, defaultProjectionLimits())
+	if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+		t.Fatal(diagnostics)
+	}
+	baseline := &document.Node{Kind: document.Mapping}
+	presence := make(map[string]inputPresence)
+	collectPresence(expanded.root, Path{}, presence)
+	decoded := decodedConfiguration{
+		baseline: baseline, final: expanded.root, presence: presence, origins: expanded.origins,
+	}
+	metadata := metadataFromDecoded(decoded)
+	applyInheritanceMetadata(&metadata, composed.root, composed.origins, composed.overlays, expanded)
+	finalizeMetadataPaths(&metadata, expanded.root, composed.applications, baseline, composed.root)
+	return &Inspection{
+		metadata: metadata, baseline: baseline, input: expanded.root,
+		inputOrigins: expanded.origins, final: expanded.root,
+		applications: composed.applications, inheritance: expanded.operations,
+	}, expanded
+}
+
+func TestInheritanceHistoryFollowsFinalParentAfterSourceOverlay(t *testing.T) {
+	base, diagnostics := composeDocuments(parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-1", "parent: {value: original}\nchild: {extends: parent}\n"))
+	if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+		t.Fatal(diagnostics)
+	}
+	assembly := newAssemblyAccumulator(base)
+	if diagnostics := assembly.applyOverlay(parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-2", "parent: {value: latest}\n"), nil, nil, LayerOverlay); len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+		t.Fatal(diagnostics)
+	}
+	inspection, _ := inheritanceInspectionFromComposition(t, assembly.current)
+	path := Keys("child", "value")
+	explanation, found := inspection.Explain(path)
+	if !found || explanation.Effective.YAML != "latest\n" ||
+		len(explanation.History) == 0 || explanation.History[len(explanation.History)-1].Origin.Locations[0].SourceID != "source-2" {
+		t.Fatalf("overlaid parent contribution = %#v, %v", explanation, found)
+	}
+	parentHistory := inspection.Metadata().History(Keys("parent", "value"))
+	if len(parentHistory) < 2 || parentHistory[0].Origin.Layer != LayerBase ||
+		parentHistory[len(parentHistory)-1].Origin.Layer != LayerOverlay {
+		t.Fatalf("parent source history = %#v", parentHistory)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestInheritanceHistoryPreservesCancellationAndSupersededDirective(t *testing.T) {
+	base, diagnostics := composeDocuments(parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-1", "parent: {value: one}\nchild: {extends: missing, value: own}\n"))
+	if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+		t.Fatal(diagnostics)
+	}
+	assembly := newAssemblyAccumulator(base)
+	if diagnostics := assembly.applyOverlay(parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-2", "child: {extends: null}\n"), nil, nil, LayerOverlay); len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+		t.Fatal(diagnostics)
+	}
+	inspection, _ := inheritanceInspectionFromComposition(t, assembly.current)
+	control := Keys("child", inheritanceKey)
+	history := inspection.Metadata().History(control)
+	if len(history) < 3 || history[0].Origin.Locations[0].SourceID != "source-1" ||
+		history[1].Origin.Locations[0].SourceID != "source-2" ||
+		history[len(history)-1].Origin.Operation != ChangeInheritance {
+		t.Fatalf("superseded and cancelled directive history = %#v", history)
+	}
+	explanation, found := inspection.Explain(control)
+	if !found || explanation.Effective.Present || len(explanation.History) < 3 ||
+		explanation.History[len(explanation.History)-1].After.Present {
+		t.Fatalf("cancelled directive explanation = %#v, %v", explanation, found)
+	}
+	value, found := inspection.Explain(Keys("child", "value"))
+	if !found || value.Effective.YAML != "own\n" {
+		t.Fatalf("cancelled relationship changed own value = %#v, %v", value, found)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestInheritanceHistoryProjectsNestedDestinationValues(t *testing.T) {
+	inspection, _ := inheritanceInspectionForTest(t, parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-1", `base:
+  settings:
+    primary: {value: old}
+    secondary: {extends: primary}
+custom:
+  extends: base
+  settings:
+    primary: {value: new}
+`))
+	path := Keys("custom", "settings", "secondary", "value")
+	history := inspection.Metadata().History(path)
+	structural := 0
+	for _, change := range history {
+		if change.Origin.Operation == ChangeInheritance {
+			structural++
+		}
+	}
+	if structural == 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("nested destination history = %#v", history)
+	}
+	explanation, found := inspection.Explain(path)
+	if !found || explanation.Effective.YAML != "new\n" ||
+		len(explanation.Origin.Inheritance) == 0 ||
+		explanation.Origin.Inheritance[len(explanation.Origin.Inheritance)-1].To.String() != path.String() {
+		t.Fatalf("nested destination explanation = %#v, %v", explanation, found)
+	}
+	for _, change := range explanation.History {
+		if change.Origin.Operation == ChangeDecoding {
+			t.Fatalf("nested inheritance was attributed to decoding: %#v", explanation.History)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestInheritanceHistoryShowsParentAndEqualChildContribution(t *testing.T) {
+	inspection, _ := inheritanceInspectionForTest(t,
+		parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-1", "parent: {value: same}\n"),
+		parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-2", "child: {extends: parent, value: same}\n"))
+	path := Keys("child", "value")
+	history := inspection.Metadata().History(path)
+	var structural []Change
+	for _, change := range history {
+		if change.Origin.Operation == ChangeInheritance {
+			structural = append(structural, change)
+		}
+	}
+	if len(structural) != 2 || structural[0].Origin.Locations[0].SourceID != "source-1" ||
+		structural[1].Origin.Locations[0].SourceID != "source-2" ||
+		len(structural[0].Dependencies) != 2 || structural[0].Dependencies[0].String() != "/parent" ||
+		len(structural[0].Origin.Inheritance) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("equal-valued structural history = %#v", history)
+	}
+	explanation, found := inspection.Explain(path)
+	if !found || explanation.Effective.YAML != "same\n" {
+		t.Fatalf("explanation = %#v, %v", explanation, found)
+	}
+	var equalEvents int
+	for _, change := range explanation.History {
+		if change.Origin.Operation == ChangeDecoding {
+			t.Fatalf("inheritance was attributed to decoding: %#v", explanation.History)
+		}
+		if change.Origin.Operation == ChangeInheritance && change.Before.YAML == change.After.YAML {
+			equalEvents++
+		}
+	}
+	if equalEvents != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("equal parent and child operations = %#v", explanation.History)
+	}
+	parentHistory := inspection.Metadata().History(Keys("parent", "value"))
+	for _, change := range parentHistory {
+		if change.Origin.Operation == ChangeInheritance {
+			t.Fatalf("source definition acquired a destination operation: %#v", parentHistory)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestInheritanceHistoryRetainsControlsAndDisplacedPaths(t *testing.T) {
+	inspection, _ := inheritanceInspectionForTest(t,
+		parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-1", "parent: {branch: {detail: inherited}}\n"),
+		parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-2", "child: {extends: parent, branch: replaced}\n"))
+	control := Keys("child", inheritanceKey)
+	controlHistory := inspection.Metadata().History(control)
+	if len(controlHistory) < 2 || controlHistory[len(controlHistory)-1].Origin.Operation != ChangeInheritance {
+		t.Fatalf("control history = %#v", controlHistory)
+	}
+	controlExplanation, found := inspection.Explain(control)
+	if !found || controlExplanation.Effective.Present ||
+		controlExplanation.History[len(controlExplanation.History)-1].After.Present {
+		t.Fatalf("consumed control = %#v, %v", controlExplanation, found)
+	}
+	path := Keys("child", "branch", "detail")
+	if _, found := inspection.Metadata().Lookup(path); found {
+		t.Fatal("displaced descendant remained effective")
+	}
+	listed := false
+	for _, historical := range inspection.Metadata().HistoricalPaths() {
+		if historical.String() == path.String() {
+			listed = true
+		}
+	}
+	if !listed {
+		t.Fatal("displaced inherited descendant was not enumerable")
+	}
+	history := inspection.Metadata().History(path)
+	if len(history) < 2 || history[len(history)-1].Origin.Operation != ChangeInheritance {
+		t.Fatalf("displaced descendant history = %#v", history)
+	}
+	explanation, found := inspection.Explain(path)
+	if !found || explanation.Effective.Present {
+		t.Fatalf("displaced descendant explanation = %#v, %v", explanation, found)
+	}
+	var sawInherited, sawRemoval bool
+	for _, change := range explanation.History {
+		if change.Origin.Operation != ChangeInheritance {
+			continue
+		}
+		sawInherited = sawInherited || change.After.Present
+		sawRemoval = sawRemoval || (change.Before.Present && !change.After.Present)
+	}
+	if !sawInherited || !sawRemoval {
+		t.Fatalf("displaced value sequence = %#v", explanation.History)
+	}
+	var rendered bytes.Buffer
+	if err := inspection.WriteExplanation(&rendered, path); err != nil ||
+		!strings.Contains(rendered.String(), "structural inheritance") {
+		t.Fatalf("rendered structural explanation = %q, %v", rendered.String(), err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestInheritanceHistoryPrecedesApplicationResolution(t *testing.T) {
+	inspection, _ := inheritanceInspectionForTest(t,
+		parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-1", "parent: {value: original}\nchild: {extends: parent}\n"))
+	path := Keys("child", "value")
+	replacement := &document.Node{Kind: document.String, Text: "derived"}
+	snapshot := resolutionSnapshot{
+		change: Change{Path: path, Origin: Origin{Layer: LayerResolution, Operation: ChangeNormalization}},
+		after:  replacement,
+	}
+	final := document.Clone(inspection.final)
+	replaceHistoryPath(&final, path, replacement)
+	inspection.final = final
+	inspection.resolution = []resolutionSnapshot{snapshot}
+	inspection.metadata.history[path.String()] = append(inspection.metadata.history[path.String()], snapshot.change)
+	inspection.metadata.fields[path.String()] = FieldInfo{Explicit: true, Origin: snapshot.change.Origin}
+	history := inspection.Metadata().History(path)
+	if len(history) < 2 || history[len(history)-2].Origin.Operation != ChangeInheritance ||
+		history[len(history)-1].Origin.Operation != ChangeNormalization {
+		t.Fatalf("resolution order = %#v", history)
+	}
+	explanation, found := inspection.Explain(path)
+	if !found || explanation.Effective.YAML != "derived\n" ||
+		explanation.History[len(explanation.History)-1].Origin.Operation != ChangeNormalization {
+		t.Fatalf("resolved explanation = %#v, %v", explanation, found)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestHistoryNodeBudgetCountsSharedInheritanceEvidenceOnce(t *testing.T) {
+	shared := &document.Node{Kind: document.String, Text: "shared"}
+	extra := &document.Node{Kind: document.String, Text: "extra"}
+	expansion := &inheritanceScope{
+		root:         shared,
+		operations:   []inheritanceOperation{{parent: shared, effective: shared}},
+		replacements: []inheritanceReplacement{{before: shared, after: extra}},
+	}
+	if !historyNodesWithin(2, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, expansion) ||
+		historyNodesWithin(1, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, expansion) {
+		t.Fatal("shared evidence node accounting is incorrect")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestInheritanceExpansionEnforcesRetainedHistoryBudget(t *testing.T) {
+	input := parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-1", "parent: {value: original}\nchild: {extends: parent, value: replacement}\n")
+	if _, diagnostics := expandInheritanceWithBudgets(input, nil, defaultProjectionLimits(), 2); len(diagnostics) != 1 || diagnostics[0].Code != CodeExplainLimitExceeded {
+		t.Fatalf("retained history limit = %#v", diagnostics)
+	}
+	if _, diagnostics := expandInheritanceWithBudgets(input, nil, defaultProjectionLimits(), 100); len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("sufficient retained history budget = %#v", diagnostics)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/engine/inheritance_walk.go b/internal/engine/inheritance_walk.go
index 5ed66a8..10709ce 100644
--- a/internal/engine/inheritance_walk.go
+++ b/internal/engine/inheritance_walk.go
@@ -11,9 +11,11 @@ type inheritanceWalker struct {
 	root         **document.Node
 	origins      map[string]Origin
 	limits       projectionLimits
+	retained     *retainedNodeCounter
 	transfers    []inheritanceTransfer
 	controls     []inheritanceControl
 	replacements []inheritanceReplacement
+	operations   []inheritanceOperation
 }
 
 // expandInheritanceTree resolves each destination scope after its enclosing
@@ -24,12 +26,19 @@ func expandInheritanceTree(input *document.Node, limits projectionLimits) (*inhe
 }
 
 func expandInheritanceWithOrigins(input *document.Node, inputOrigins map[string]Origin, limits projectionLimits) (*inheritanceScope, []Diagnostic) {
+	return expandInheritanceWithBudgets(input, inputOrigins, limits, historyNodeLimit)
+}
+
+func expandInheritanceWithBudgets(input *document.Node, inputOrigins map[string]Origin, limits projectionLimits, historyLimit int) (*inheritanceScope, []Diagnostic) {
 	if input == nil || input.Kind != document.Mapping {
 		return nil, []Diagnostic{{Code: CodeInheritanceInvalid, Severity: SeverityError,
 			Message: "inheritance requires a mapping document root"}}
 	}
 	root := input
-	walker := inheritanceWalker{root: &root, limits: limits, origins: cloneOriginIndex(inputOrigins)}
+	walker := inheritanceWalker{
+		root: &root, limits: limits, origins: cloneOriginIndex(inputOrigins),
+		retained: newRetainedNodeCounter(historyLimit),
+	}
 	if problem := walker.visit(&root, Path{}, true); problem != nil {
 		return nil, []Diagnostic{*problem}
 	}
@@ -38,7 +47,7 @@ func expandInheritanceWithOrigins(input *document.Node, inputOrigins map[string]
 	}
 	return &inheritanceScope{
 		root: root, origins: walker.origins, transfers: walker.transfers,
-		controls: walker.controls, replacements: walker.replacements,
+		controls: walker.controls, replacements: walker.replacements, operations: walker.operations,
 	}, nil
 }
 
@@ -59,11 +68,14 @@ func (w *inheritanceWalker) visit(node **document.Node, path Path, unscoped bool
 				w.controls = append(w.controls, inheritanceControl{
 					path: referencePath, locations: []Location{location}, cancelled: true,
 				})
+				origin := directInheritanceOrigins(reference.Value, referencePath, w.origins)[referencePath.String()]
+				control := inheritanceControl{path: referencePath, locations: []Location{location}, cancelled: true}
+				w.operations = append(w.operations, inheritanceOperation{control: &control, controlOrigin: origin})
 				deleteOriginSubtree(w.origins, referencePath, reference.Value)
 				*node = withoutInheritanceDirective(*node)
 			}
 		}
-		resolved, diagnostics := expandSiblingDefinitionsWithOrigins(*node, path, w.limits, w.origins)
+		resolved, diagnostics := expandSiblingDefinitionsWithOrigins(*node, path, w.limits, w.origins, w.retained)
 		if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
 			return &diagnostics[0]
 		}
@@ -75,6 +87,7 @@ func (w *inheritanceWalker) visit(node **document.Node, path Path, unscoped bool
 		w.transfers = append(w.transfers, resolved.transfers...)
 		w.controls = append(w.controls, resolved.controls...)
 		w.replacements = append(w.replacements, resolved.replacements...)
+		w.operations = append(w.operations, resolved.operations...)
 		if !inheritanceLowerBoundWithin(*w.root, w.limits.nodes) {
 			problem := inheritanceBudgetDiagnostic(path, (*node).Location)
 			return &problem
@@ -251,3 +264,11 @@ func inheritanceBudgetDiagnostic(path Path, location document.Location) Diagnost
 		Message: "expanded configuration exceeds the projection limit", Primary: &primary,
 	}
 }
+
+func inheritanceHistoryBudgetDiagnostic(path Path, location document.Location) Diagnostic {
+	primary := publicLocation(location)
+	return Diagnostic{
+		Code: CodeExplainLimitExceeded, Severity: SeverityError, Path: path,
+		Message: "retained inheritance history exceeds the node limit", Primary: &primary,
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/engine/load.go b/internal/engine/load.go
index c5f91b8..0869b9c 100644
--- a/internal/engine/load.go
+++ b/internal/engine/load.go
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ type Inspection struct {
 	final            *document.Node
 	resolution       []resolutionSnapshot
 	applications     []historyApplication
+	inheritance      []inheritanceOperation
 	secrets          map[string]bool
 	secretReferences map[string]string
 }
diff --git a/internal/engine/load_metadata.go b/internal/engine/load_metadata.go
index 93227ed..62c5f74 100644
--- a/internal/engine/load_metadata.go
+++ b/internal/engine/load_metadata.go
@@ -254,8 +254,9 @@ func cloneMetadata(metadata Metadata) Metadata {
 		return Metadata{}
 	}
 	cloned := Metadata{
-		fields:  make(map[string]FieldInfo, len(metadata.fields)),
-		history: make(map[string][]Change, len(metadata.history)),
+		fields:      make(map[string]FieldInfo, len(metadata.fields)),
+		history:     make(map[string][]Change, len(metadata.history)),
+		inheritance: append([]inheritanceOperation(nil), metadata.inheritance...),
 	}
 	cloned.effectivePaths = make(map[string]Path, len(metadata.effectivePaths))
 	for pointer, path := range metadata.effectivePaths {
diff --git a/internal/engine/metadata.go b/internal/engine/metadata.go
index 06b3625..0c38b4c 100644
--- a/internal/engine/metadata.go
+++ b/internal/engine/metadata.go
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ type Metadata struct {
 	historicalPaths map[string][]Path
 	fields          map[string]FieldInfo
 	history         map[string][]Change
+	inheritance     []inheritanceOperation
 }
 
 // Lookup returns information for an effective path. Unknown and invalid paths
@@ -25,7 +26,9 @@ func (m Metadata) Lookup(path Path) (FieldInfo, bool) {
 	if !ok {
 		return FieldInfo{}, false
 	}
-	return cloneFieldInfo(info), true
+	detached := cloneFieldInfo(info)
+	detached.Origin.Inheritance = projectInheritanceSteps(detached.Origin)
+	return detached, true
 }
 
 // IsExplicit reports whether a surviving input contribution explicitly defined
@@ -43,15 +46,8 @@ func (m Metadata) History(path Path) []Change {
 	if !m.hasHistoricalPath(path) {
 		return nil
 	}
-	history, ok := m.history[path.String()]
-	if !ok {
-		return nil
-	}
-	cloned := make([]Change, len(history))
-	for i, change := range history {
-		cloned[i] = cloneChange(change)
-	}
-	return cloned
+	history := m.history[path.String()]
+	return historyWithInheritance(path, history, m.inheritance)
 }
 
 // HistoricalPaths returns the paths observed during loading, including effective
@@ -136,6 +132,16 @@ func finalizeMetadataPaths(m *Metadata, final *document.Node, applications []his
 		}
 		walkDocument(application.value, prefix, add)
 	}
+	for _, operation := range m.inheritance {
+		if operation.control != nil {
+			add(operation.control.path, nil)
+			continue
+		}
+		if operation.transfer != nil {
+			walkDocument(operation.parent, operation.transfer.to, add)
+			walkDocument(operation.effective, operation.transfer.to, add)
+		}
+	}
 }
 
 // effectivePathIndex records document-derived paths with their contextual segment
diff --git a/internal/engine/records.go b/internal/engine/records.go
index 0f19257..12b89d5 100644
--- a/internal/engine/records.go
+++ b/internal/engine/records.go
@@ -31,7 +31,10 @@ type ChangeKind string
 const (
 	// ChangeDecoding records the built-in transition to canonical typed values.
 	// It is inspection metadata, not an operation accepted by Resolution.Record.
-	ChangeDecoding       ChangeKind = "decoding"
+	ChangeDecoding ChangeKind = "decoding"
+	// ChangeInheritance records structural input expansion. It is inspection
+	// metadata, not an operation accepted by Resolution.Record.
+	ChangeInheritance    ChangeKind = "inheritance"
 	ChangeDerivedDefault ChangeKind = "derived_default"
 	ChangeNormalization  ChangeKind = "normalization"
 )