diff --git a/docs/cli.md b/docs/cli.md
index 2d40241..8c0e5fc 100644
--- a/docs/cli.md
+++ b/docs/cli.md
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ Common failure cases:
 ### `restore`
 
 Purpose:
-- Restore durable session state (`manifest.json`, `transcripts/**`, `artifacts/**`, and optional `audio/**`) from the committed remote archive current state.
+- Restore durable session state (`manifest.json`, `transcripts/**`, `artifacts/**`, `previous/**`, and optional `audio/**`) from the committed remote archive current state.
 
 Syntax:
 
@@ -265,6 +265,12 @@ narratio restore --session-id 2026-04-04
 narratio run-stage --session-id 2026-04-04 --force analyze
 ```
 
+Rehydrate canonical previous-session inputs after artifact-input changes:
+
+```bash
+narratio run-stage --session-id 2026-04-04 --force prepare
+```
+
 ## Diagnostic / Recovery Commands
 
 Inspect stage status:
diff --git a/docs/config.md b/docs/config.md
index 5de4611..046d700 100644
--- a/docs/config.md
+++ b/docs/config.md
@@ -73,7 +73,6 @@ Why this is sufficient:
 
 ```yaml
 session_id: "{{ session_id }}"
-previous_session_id: "{{ previous_session_id }}"
 campaign: sample-campaign
 inputs:
   audio_dir: ./audio
@@ -88,6 +87,23 @@ Usage:
 narratio run --config /path/to/pipeline.yml --session ./session.yml --session-id 2026-05-03
 ```
 
+Previous-session-enabled variant:
+
+```yaml
+session_id: "{{ session_id }}"
+previous_session_id: "{{ previous_session_id }}"
+campaign: sample-campaign
+inputs:
+  audio_dir: ./audio
+  speakers_file: ./examples/speakers.yml
+  autocorrect_file: ./examples/autocorrect.yml
+  glossary_file: ./examples/glossary.yml
+```
+
+```bash
+narratio run --config /path/to/pipeline.yml --session ./session.yml --session-id 2026-05-03 --previous-session-id 2026-04-26
+```
+
 ## 6. Production-oriented config
 
 ```yaml
@@ -132,6 +148,9 @@ scriptorium:
         transcript:
           source: narratio.transcript.trimmed
           required: true
+        previous_recap:
+          source: narratio.previous_session.artifact.session_recap
+          required: false
 ```
 
 Operational notes:
@@ -248,7 +267,6 @@ Scriptorium artifact-key and dependency rules:
 
 Allowed `pipeline.scriptorium.artifacts.<name>.inputs.<key>.source` values:
 
-- `previous_session_artifact`
 - `narratio.previous_session.artifact.<configured_artifact_key>`
 - `narratio.transcript.merged`
 - `narratio.transcript.polished`
@@ -256,6 +274,7 @@ Allowed `pipeline.scriptorium.artifacts.<name>.inputs.<key>.source` values:
 - `narratio.transcript.trimmed`
 - `narratio.bounds.session`
 - `narratio.artifact.<configured_artifact_key>`
+- `previous_session_artifact` (legacy path-based source; uses `inputs.<key>.path`)
 
 `pipeline.archive.promote_artifacts[].source` values:
 
@@ -278,7 +297,7 @@ Archive promotion destination rules:
 Restore-related implications:
 
 - restore remote identity requires archive S3 identity to resolve (`pipeline.storage.s3.bucket` and session prefix derivation inputs).
-- restore scope considers only committed current state and durable paths (`manifest.json`, `transcripts/**`, `artifacts/**`, optional `audio/**`).
+- restore scope considers committed current state and durable paths (`manifest.json`, `transcripts/**`, `artifacts/**`, `previous/**`, optional `audio/**`).
 
 ## 8. Full session reference
 
@@ -307,6 +326,7 @@ Audio-source rule:
 Previous-session rule:
 
 - if `session.previous_session_id` is set, it must not equal `session.session_id`.
+- canonical previous-session sources (`narratio.previous_session.artifact.<name>`) are hydrated during `prepare` from archive current state when required by enabled configured artifacts.
 
 ## 9. Secrets
 
diff --git a/docs/internal/artifacts.md b/docs/internal/artifacts.md
index 1b4d518..87c1b97 100644
--- a/docs/internal/artifacts.md
+++ b/docs/internal/artifacts.md
@@ -1,41 +1,35 @@
 # Internal: Artifacts
 
 ## Purpose
-Define Narratio's artifact identity and resolution model for built-in transcript/bounds artifacts and runtime-configured analyze artifacts.
+Define Narratio artifact identity, catalog, and source-resolution behavior for:
+- built-in session artifacts;
+- configured analyze artifacts;
+- canonical previous-session artifact sources.
 
 ## Inputs and outputs
 Inputs:
-- artifact sources from config/runtime (`pipeline.scriptorium.artifacts.*.inputs.*.source`)
-- session paths and optional session manifest stage outputs
-- runtime artifact catalog state for configured artifact sources
+- configured input sources (`pipeline.scriptorium.artifacts.*.inputs.*.source`);
+- session paths and manifest inputs/outputs;
+- runtime catalog state.
 
 Outputs:
-- resolved local artifact path and provenance (`ResolvedSessionArtifact`)
-- runtime catalog entries for planned/executable/available artifacts
-- validation errors for unsupported, missing, or invalid artifact sources
+- resolved artifact path + provenance (`ResolvedSessionArtifact`);
+- runtime catalog entries for built-ins and configured artifacts;
+- requirement sets for canonical previous-session inputs.
 
 ## Boundaries
 Owns:
-- built-in artifact registry and content validation rules
-- runtime artifact catalog for configured artifact source IDs
-- source resolution behavior for built-in and configured artifact sources
+- built-in source registry and validation;
+- configured artifact catalog identity (`narratio.artifact.<name>`);
+- canonical previous-session source parsing and resolution;
+- previous-session requirement collection (`CollectPreviousArtifactRequirements`).
 
 Does not own:
-- artifact generation (stages produce files)
-- manifest transition policy
-- archive promotion behavior
-
-## Config fields used
-- `pipeline.scriptorium.artifacts.<name>.enabled`
-- `pipeline.scriptorium.artifacts.<name>.output_path`
-- `pipeline.scriptorium.artifacts.<name>.inputs.<key>.source`
-
-## External adapters used
-- none
-
-## State and manifest behavior
-Built-in registry entries:
+- prepare-stage remote hydration;
+- stage success/skip transitions;
+- archive upload orchestration.
 
+## Built-in IDs
 | Artifact ID | Canonical file | Producer stage | Output kind |
 | --- | --- | --- | --- |
 | `narratio.transcript.merged` | `transcripts/merged.json` | `merge` | `transcript_merged` |
@@ -44,44 +38,58 @@ Built-in registry entries:
 | `narratio.transcript.trimmed` | `transcripts/trimmed.json` | `trim` | `transcript_trimmed` |
 | `narratio.bounds.session` | `artifacts/session_bounds.json` | `trim` | `session_bounds` |
 
-Runtime catalog entries include built-ins and configured `narratio.artifact.<name>` sources.
+## Source families
+- built-in: `narratio.transcript.*`, `narratio.bounds.session`
+- configured artifact: `narratio.artifact.<artifact_key>`
+- canonical previous-session artifact: `narratio.previous_session.artifact.<artifact_key>`
 
-Catalog states:
-- `planned`: source is registered and known for this run
-- `executable`: configured artifact is selected for analyze execution
-- `available`: artifact has a usable file path (generated this run or reused from disk)
+## Runtime catalog model
+Catalog entries track:
+- `planned`: source is registered for this run;
+- `executable`: configured artifact is selected for analyze execution;
+- `available`: usable local file exists (generated this run or reused from disk).
 
-Resolution behavior:
-- built-in sources resolve via manifest producer outputs first, then canonical fallback path
-- configured `narratio.artifact.<name>` sources resolve through runtime catalog availability
-- configured source lookup requires catalog context
-
-Configured artifact provenance values:
+Configured artifact provenance values include:
 - `generated.current_analyze_run`
 - `filesystem.disabled_artifact_output`
 
-Content validation:
-- transcript built-ins: JSON with top-level `segments` array
-- bounds built-in: valid JSON
-- configured artifacts: non-empty text file
+Previous-session canonical provenance values include:
+- `manifest.inputs.previous_cache`
+- `current_session.previous_cache`
 
-## Skip and resume behavior
-- resolver and catalog have no direct skip/resume decisions
-- stage/runner skip-resume behavior consumes catalog/resolver results
+## Resolution behavior
+- Built-ins resolve via manifest producer outputs first, then canonical fallback paths.
+- Configured `narratio.artifact.<name>` sources resolve through catalog availability.
+- Canonical previous-session sources resolve to current-session `previous/` cache candidates derived from configured artifact canonical output paths.
+- Previous-session canonical resolution prefers manifest-recorded input paths when present, then filesystem fallback under `previous/artifacts/**`.
+
+## Previous-session requirement scanning
+`CollectPreviousArtifactRequirements`:
+- scans enabled configured artifacts only;
+- includes canonical previous-session sources only;
+- deduplicates by artifact key;
+- merges required/optional references (`required` wins);
+- records deterministic sorted source locations for diagnostics.
+
+## Validation behavior
+- transcript built-ins: JSON with top-level `segments` array;
+- bounds built-in: valid JSON;
+- configured and previous-session artifact files: non-empty text content.
 
 ## Failure behavior
-- unsupported source -> source validation error
-- known source unavailable -> `ErrSessionArtifactNotFound`
-- configured source without catalog -> resolution error
-- resolved file with invalid content -> validation error
+- unsupported source or malformed canonical previous source: validation/resolution error;
+- known source unavailable: `ErrSessionArtifactNotFound`;
+- configured/previous canonical source without catalog: error;
+- resolved invalid file content: validation error.
 
 ## Tests to inspect before changing
 - `internal/artifacts/artifact_resolver_test.go`
 - `internal/artifacts/catalog_test.go`
+- `internal/artifacts/previous_requirements_test.go`
+- `internal/stage/prepare_previous_test.go`
 - `internal/stage/analyze_test.go`
-- `internal/config/scriptorium_test.go`
 
 ## Architectural invariants
-- built-in IDs are static and registry-backed
-- configured artifact IDs are runtime-derived (`narratio.artifact.<name>`) and catalog-backed
-- built-in/source resolution remains deterministic and validation-gated
+- Built-in source IDs are static.
+- Configured and previous-session source IDs are artifact-key based and validation-gated.
+- Resolution behavior remains deterministic and manifest-aware.
diff --git a/docs/internal/command-restore.md b/docs/internal/command-restore.md
index 44be344..3d1ed30 100644
--- a/docs/internal/command-restore.md
+++ b/docs/internal/command-restore.md
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 # Internal: Command Restore
 
 ## Purpose
-Define the implemented `narratio restore` command contract: committed remote-state discovery, deterministic planning, safe file installation, conflict policy, and restore reporting.
+Define the implemented `narratio restore` contract: committed remote-state discovery, deterministic plan classification, safe file install semantics, and restore reporting.
 
 ## Inputs and outputs
 Inputs:
-- CLI flags: `--config`, `--session`, `--session-id`, `--dry-run`, `--force`, `--include-audio`.
+- CLI flags: `--config`, `--session`, `--session-id`, `--previous-session-id`, `--dry-run`, `--force`, `--include-audio`.
 - Resolved/validated `pipeline.yml` and `session.yml`.
 - Configured remote object store.
 - Remote committed current-state markers (`current/run_id.txt`, `current/manifest.json`).
@@ -54,6 +54,21 @@ Does not own:
   - existing local manifest is preserved if restored manifest validation/install fails.
 - Non-dry-run report persists summary/action status metadata in `reports/restore-latest.json`.
 
+Restore path scope:
+- includes:
+  - `manifest.json`
+  - `transcripts/**`
+  - `artifacts/**`
+  - `previous/**`
+  - `audio/**` only when `--include-audio` is set
+- excludes:
+  - `runs/**`
+  - `logs/**`
+  - `reports/**`
+  - `config/**`
+  - `inputs/**`
+  - remote `current/**` pointer files as local restore targets
+
 ## Skip and resume behavior
 - Restore does not participate in stage skip/resume decisions.
 - Restore provides durable local state so subsequent stage commands can resume or rerun based on restored manifest state.
@@ -80,7 +95,7 @@ Does not own:
 - `current/run_id.txt` is the remote commit marker; restore must not infer committed state from incidental files.
 - Local path mapping is traversal-safe and constrained to session root.
 - Restore scope is deterministic and path-classified:
-  - include `manifest.json`, `transcripts/**`, `artifacts/**`
+  - include `manifest.json`, `transcripts/**`, `artifacts/**`, `previous/**`
   - include `audio/**` only with `--include-audio`
   - exclude `runs/**`, `logs/**`, `reports/**`, `config/**`, `inputs/**`
 - Command remains standalone; no implicit `run --restore` behavior.
diff --git a/docs/internal/stage-analyze.md b/docs/internal/stage-analyze.md
index 11fd9d5..8aed41b 100644
--- a/docs/internal/stage-analyze.md
+++ b/docs/internal/stage-analyze.md
@@ -3,31 +3,36 @@
 ## Purpose
 Execute selected configured Scriptorium artifacts in deterministic dependency order and promote successful outputs to canonical session artifact paths.
 
-## Inputs and Outputs
+## Inputs and outputs
 Inputs:
-- configured artifact definitions from `pipeline.scriptorium.artifacts`
-- selected artifact filter from runtime (`--artifacts`) when provided
-- resolved artifact input sources declared per artifact (`inputs.*.source`)
-- optional previous-session file inputs (`previous_session_artifact`)
+- configured artifact definitions from `pipeline.scriptorium.artifacts`;
+- selected artifact filter (`--artifacts`) when provided;
+- resolved artifact sources from resolver/catalog.
+
+Source types used by analyze:
+- built-ins: `narratio.transcript.*`, `narratio.bounds.session`;
+- configured artifacts: `narratio.artifact.<artifact_key>`;
+- canonical previous-session artifacts: `narratio.previous_session.artifact.<artifact_key>`;
+- legacy path-based previous-session source: `previous_session_artifact` (uses `inputs.*.path`).
 
 Outputs:
-- one promoted output file per executed configured artifact at that artifact's configured `output_path`
-- stage metadata containing generated artifact entries and reused disabled-artifact entries
+- promoted configured artifact files at each configured `output_path`;
+- stage metadata (`generated_artifacts`, `reused_artifacts`, selected/order info).
 
 ## Boundaries
 Owns:
-- runtime artifact catalog construction for analyze execution
-- selected-artifact planning and dependency ordering
-- per-artifact input resolution, var resolution, timeout/render-debug resolution
-- Scriptorium run/render invocation for each selected artifact
-- run-local output generation and canonical promotion
+- runtime artifact catalog construction;
+- selected-artifact planning and dependency ordering;
+- per-input resolution and required/optional handling;
+- Scriptorium render/run invocation;
+- run-local output generation and canonical promotion.
 
 Does not own:
-- transcript generation/processing stages
-- archive promotion policy
-- per-artifact resume semantics
+- prepare-time previous-session hydration;
+- object-store access for previous-session sources;
+- archive promotion policy.
 
-## Config Fields Used
+## Config fields used
 - `session.session_id`
 - `session.campaign`
 - `pipeline.workspace.root`
@@ -36,49 +41,41 @@ Does not own:
 - `pipeline.scriptorium.timeout`
 - `pipeline.scriptorium.render_debug`
 - `pipeline.scriptorium.artifacts.<name>.*`
-  - `enabled`
-  - `depends_on`
-  - `prompt_id`
-  - `profile_id`
-  - `timeout`
-  - `output_path`
-  - `render_debug`
-  - `inputs`
-  - `vars`
 
-## External Adapters Used
+## External adapters used
 - Scriptorium adapter:
-  - optional `RenderArtifact` (render debug)
-  - `RunArtifact` (artifact generation)
+  - optional `RenderArtifact` when render-debug is enabled;
+  - `RunArtifact` for artifact generation.
 
-## State and Manifest Behavior
-- If `pipeline.scriptorium` is absent, stage returns success metadata with `skipped=true`.
-- If no artifacts are configured, stage returns success metadata with `skipped=true`.
-- If zero artifacts are executable after `enabled` + `--artifacts` filtering, stage returns success metadata with `skipped=true`.
-- Builds runtime catalog with built-ins and configured artifacts.
-- Non-executable configured artifacts are marked available only when their configured output file exists and is valid on disk.
-- Executes selected configured artifacts in topological order with deterministic tie-breaking.
-- For each generated artifact, records metadata fields including `name`, `source_id`, `output_kind`, `path`, `prompt_id`, `profile_id`, and `provenance`.
-- Reused disabled artifacts are recorded separately in `reused_artifacts` with provenance `filesystem.disabled_artifact_output`.
+## State and manifest behavior
+- If Scriptorium config is absent, or no artifacts are executable after filtering, analyze returns success metadata with `skipped=true`.
+- Builds runtime catalog with built-ins and configured `narratio.artifact.<name>` entries.
+- Non-executable configured artifacts may still be marked available from existing canonical output files.
+- Resolves canonical previous-session sources from local prepared `previous/` cache:
+  - prefers manifest-backed previous input paths when present;
+  - may fall back to current-session `previous/` filesystem paths.
+- Analyze does not call object storage for canonical previous-session source resolution.
+- Required canonical previous-session input missing:
+  - fails with guidance to run `narratio run-stage --force prepare`.
+- Optional missing sources are omitted from adapter input paths.
 
-## Skip and Resume Behavior
+## Skip and resume behavior
 - Runner-level skip applies when analyze is already `succeeded` and `--force` is not set.
-- Analyze remains stage-scoped for resume/skip; there is no per-artifact resume state.
-- `--artifacts` filters which configured artifacts are executable when analyze runs; it does not imply `--force`.
+- Analyze is stage-scoped for resume; no per-artifact manifest resume state.
+- `--artifacts` filters executable artifacts but does not imply force rerun.
 
-## Failure Behavior
-- Fails on invalid dependency ordering, unavailable required configured inputs, invalid built-in input prerequisites, render/run adapter failures, validation-failed adapter results, or missing/empty outputs.
-- Required configured dependency missing from catalog availability fails clearly before invocation.
-- Optional missing inputs are omitted.
+## Failure behavior
+- Fails on dependency-order violations, missing required inputs, resolver validation failures, adapter errors, and missing/empty generated outputs.
+- Required unavailable configured artifact source (`narratio.artifact.<name>`) fails before invocation.
+- Required canonical previous-session source fails with prepare-rerun guidance.
 
-## Tests to Inspect Before Changing
+## Tests to inspect before changing
 - `internal/stage/analyze_test.go`
 - `internal/artifacts/catalog_test.go`
 - `internal/artifacts/artifact_resolver_test.go`
-- `internal/adapters/scriptorium/subprocess_test.go`
+- `internal/app/restore_workflow_test.go`
 
-## Architectural Invariants
-- Configured artifacts are identified by `narratio.artifact.<name>` source IDs.
-- Artifact-to-artifact references rely on explicit `depends_on` declarations validated in config.
-- Generated analyze outputs are treated uniformly as Scriptorium artifacts.
-- Successful outputs must exist and be non-empty before promotion.
+## Architectural invariants
+- Canonical previous-session behavior is local-cache only during analyze.
+- Generated outputs are validated and promoted before stage success is recorded.
+- Resolver/catalog decisions stay deterministic and validation-gated.
diff --git a/docs/internal/stage-archive.md b/docs/internal/stage-archive.md
index c19471f..10ea436 100644
--- a/docs/internal/stage-archive.md
+++ b/docs/internal/stage-archive.md
@@ -1,17 +1,19 @@
 # Stage: archive
 
 ## Purpose
-Publish run records and promoted session artifacts to object storage, then atomically advance the remote current pointer.
+Publish durable run/session state to object storage, then atomically advance remote current state.
 
 ## Inputs and Outputs
 Inputs:
 - session manifest and prerequisite stage records
 - run root contents under `runs/{run_id}/`
 - promotion rules with artifact `source` IDs and archive `dest` paths (`archive.promote_artifacts`)
+- session-level `previous/**` cache files when present
 
 Outputs:
 - uploaded run files under `{session_prefix}/runs/{run_id}/...`
 - uploaded promoted artifacts under `{session_prefix}/...`
+- uploaded session previous-cache files under `{session_prefix}/previous/...` when present
 - `{session_prefix}/current/manifest.json`
 - `{session_prefix}/current/run_id.txt` written last
 
@@ -21,6 +23,7 @@ Owns:
 - Prerequisite stage success enforcement
 - Run file collection and upload (excluding `audio/`)
 - Promotion rule resolution and upload
+- Session previous-cache file collection/upload
 - Commit pointer publish order
 
 Does not own:
@@ -43,8 +46,10 @@ Does not own:
 ## State and Manifest Behavior
 - Requires `prepare`, `transcribe`, `merge`, `polish`, `normalize`, `trim`, and `analyze` status `succeeded`.
 - Resolves bucket/prefix from manifest identity first, then config fallback.
+- Uploads session `previous/**` files as durable session state when the local `previous/` directory exists.
 - Writes metadata including:
   - upload counts/paths
+  - `previous_files_uploaded` and `previous_uploaded_paths`
   - `current_manifest_key`
   - `current_run_id_key`
   - `current_pointer_written`
@@ -64,5 +69,6 @@ Does not own:
 
 ## Architectural Invariants
 - Run upload excludes `audio/` subtree.
+- Session `previous/**` is archiveable durable input/provenance state, not run-local output.
 - `current/manifest.json` uploads before `current/run_id.txt`.
 - `current/run_id.txt` is the remote publish commit marker.
diff --git a/docs/internal/stage-prepare.md b/docs/internal/stage-prepare.md
index 0c77787..51effcb 100644
--- a/docs/internal/stage-prepare.md
+++ b/docs/internal/stage-prepare.md
@@ -1,40 +1,49 @@
 # Stage: prepare
 
 ## Purpose
-Materialize all required session inputs into canonical local workspace paths and record input provenance in the session manifest.
+Materialize canonical current-session input state and provenance before downstream stages run.
 
-## Inputs and Outputs
+Prepare owns:
+- local input file materialization (`inputs/**`);
+- audio input materialization (`audio/**`);
+- previous-session cache hydration (`previous/**`) for canonical previous-session artifact sources.
+
+## Inputs and outputs
 Inputs:
-- `session.yml` (resolved session config)
-- `pipeline.resolved.yml` (materialized from resolved pipeline config)
-- `speakers.yml`
-- `autocorrect.yml`
-- `glossary.yml`
+- resolved config/session (`pipeline.yml`, `session.yml`);
+- session-local input files (`speakers`, `autocorrect`, `glossary`);
 - audio source:
-  - local (`session.inputs.audio_dir` or `session.inputs.audio_files`), or
-  - S3 (`session.inputs.audio_s3.prefix`)
+  - local: `session.inputs.audio_dir` or `session.inputs.audio_files`;
+  - S3: `session.inputs.audio_s3.prefix`;
+- configured enabled Scriptorium artifact inputs (for previous-session requirement scanning);
+- remote previous-session current archive state when previous hydration is required.
 
 Outputs:
-- `inputs/session.yml`
-- `inputs/pipeline.resolved.yml`
-- `inputs/speakers.yml`
-- `inputs/autocorrect.yml`
-- `inputs/glossary.yml`
-- `audio/*.flac` in session workdir
-- `manifest.Inputs` records with checksums and source metadata
+- `inputs/session.yml`;
+- `inputs/pipeline.resolved.yml`;
+- `inputs/speakers.yml`;
+- `inputs/autocorrect.yml`;
+- `inputs/glossary.yml`;
+- `audio/*.flac` in canonical session `audio/`;
+- optional `previous/manifest.json`;
+- optional `previous/artifacts/**`;
+- deterministic `manifest.Inputs` records with checksums and provenance metadata.
 
 ## Boundaries
 Owns:
-- Input path resolution and validation
-- Local copy/materialization of configs and audio files
-- S3 audio download to run-scoped spool, then copy into work audio dir
+- input path resolution and materialization;
+- S3 audio list/download/copy flow;
+- previous-session artifact requirement collection from enabled configured artifacts;
+- previous cache lifecycle when requirements exist (clear and rehydrate managed `previous/` state).
 
 Does not own:
-- Transcript generation/processing
-- Archive publish behavior
+- transcript or artifact generation;
+- analyze-stage source resolution;
+- archive commit behavior.
 
-## Config Fields Used
+## Config fields used
 - `session.session_id`
+- `session.previous_session_id`
 - `session.campaign`
 - `session.inputs.speakers_file`
 - `session.inputs.autocorrect_file`
@@ -46,29 +55,56 @@ Does not own:
 - `pipeline.spool.root`
 - `pipeline.storage.s3.bucket`
 - `pipeline.storage.s3.root_prefix`
+- `pipeline.scriptorium.artifacts.<name>.enabled`
+- `pipeline.scriptorium.artifacts.<name>.inputs.<key>.source`
+- `pipeline.scriptorium.artifacts.<name>.inputs.<key>.required`
 
-## External Adapters Used
-- Object storage backend (`env.ObjectStore`) for S3 audio list/download when `audio_s3` is configured.
+## External adapters used
+- `storage.ObjectStore` for:
+  - S3 audio listing/downloads;
+  - previous-session current pointer/manifest/artifact object checks and downloads.
 
-## State and Manifest Behavior
+## State and manifest behavior
 - Ensures workspace layout exists.
-- Writes resolved config and input files to canonical `inputs/` paths.
-- Records all prepared inputs into `manifest.Inputs` (sorted deterministically by kind/path).
-- For S3 audio, records `S3Bucket`, `S3Key`, `S3Size`, `S3ETag`, and `SpoolPath` in each audio input record.
+- Materializes canonical input files and audio files.
+- Scans enabled configured artifact inputs for canonical sources:
+  - `narratio.previous_session.artifact.<artifact_key>`
+- If one or more canonical previous-session requirements exist:
+  - clears managed `previous/` state;
+  - hydrates required/optional previous artifacts from the configured previous session’s committed archive current state;
+  - writes `previous/manifest.json` and hydrated `previous/artifacts/**`;
+  - records hydrated previous inputs in `manifest.Inputs` with source `previous_session_archive.current`.
+- If no canonical previous-session requirements exist, prepare does not manage `previous/`.
+- `manifest.Inputs` is sorted deterministically by `(kind, path)`.
 
-## Skip and Resume Behavior
-- Runner-level skip applies when stage already `succeeded` and `--force` is not set.
-- Stage itself is deterministic/idempotent for unchanged inputs (`copyFileIfChanged`, `writeBytesIfChanged`).
+## Required and optional previous-session behavior
+- `previous_session_id` unset:
+  - if any referenced previous artifact is required: fail;
+  - if all referenced previous artifacts are optional: continue and omit them.
+- Previous session archive current pointer or manifest missing:
+  - if any referenced previous artifact is required: fail;
+  - if all referenced previous artifacts are optional: continue and omit missing ones.
+- Missing required previous artifact object: fail.
+- Missing optional previous artifact object: omit.
+- Downloaded previous artifacts must validate as non-empty files.
 
-## Failure Behavior
-- Fails on missing required files, invalid audio source combinations, no discoverable `.flac` files, duplicate audio basenames, missing object store for S3 mode, or S3 list/download failures.
+## Skip and resume behavior
+- Runner-level skip remains authoritative:
+  - if `prepare` already succeeded and run is not forced, `prepare` does not run and no hydration/download occurs.
+- If `prepare` runs (including with `--force`), it owns managed `previous/` state for canonical previous-session inputs.
 
-## Tests to Inspect Before Changing
+## Failure behavior
+- Fails on missing required input files, invalid audio-source combinations, empty/duplicate audio inputs, missing object store for S3 modes, and remote access/download/validation errors.
+- For required canonical previous-session inputs, analyze-time missing-input guidance is to rerun:
+  - `narratio run-stage --force prepare`
+
+## Tests to inspect before changing
 - `internal/stage/prepare_test.go`
-- `internal/app/session_cli_test.go`
-- `internal/config/load_validate_test.go`
+- `internal/stage/prepare_previous_test.go`
+- `internal/artifacts/previous_requirements_test.go`
+- `internal/app/runner_test.go`
 
-## Architectural Invariants
+## Architectural invariants
 - `audio_dir`/`audio_files` and `audio_s3` are mutually exclusive.
-- Audio files must be `.flac`.
-- Canonical `inputs/*` and `audio/*` paths are the durable source for downstream stages.
+- Storage keys are computed by callers using archive/path helpers; storage adapter receives explicit keys.
+- `prepare` is the only stage that hydrates canonical previous-session cache state.
diff --git a/docs/operations.md b/docs/operations.md
index b6dda00..f461ee5 100644
--- a/docs/operations.md
+++ b/docs/operations.md
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ Restore source-of-truth:
 - remote current manifest: `current/manifest.json`
 
 Restore default scope:
-- includes `manifest.json`, `transcripts/**`, `artifacts/**`
+- includes `manifest.json`, `transcripts/**`, `artifacts/**`, `previous/**`
 - includes `audio/**` only with `--include-audio`
 - excludes `runs/**`, `logs/**`, `reports/**`, `config/**`, `inputs/**`, and `current/**` (except remote `current/manifest.json` as source)
 
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ Canonical session directories:
 - `audio/`
 - `transcripts/`
 - `artifacts/`
+- `previous/`
 - `reports/`
 - `logs/`
 - `config/`
@@ -99,6 +100,12 @@ Configured artifact source reuse:
 - accepted on `run`, `resume`, and `run-stage analyze`.
 - filters analyze execution only; does not force stage rerun.
 
+Canonical previous-session input behavior:
+- canonical sources use `narratio.previous_session.artifact.<artifact_key>`.
+- these inputs are hydrated by `prepare`, not `analyze`.
+- if analyze fails due to missing canonical previous cache, rerun:
+  - `narratio run-stage --session-id <id> --force prepare`
+
 ## Remote archive layout and publish contract
 
 When archive is enabled and run upload is enabled, archive publishes under:
diff --git a/docs/roadmap/previous.md b/docs/roadmap/previous.md
index 45fe36f..9eaa728 100644
--- a/docs/roadmap/previous.md
+++ b/docs/roadmap/previous.md
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 ## Status
 
-Planned.
+Completed.
 
 This roadmap describes the implementation strategy for first-class previous-session artifact support in Narratio. It belongs under `docs/roadmap/previous.md` until the feature is implemented. After implementation, current behavior should be documented in the appropriate user-facing and internal documentation files, and this roadmap should be removed or marked complete according to the documentation policy.
 
diff --git a/examples/pipeline.full.annotated.yml b/examples/pipeline.full.annotated.yml
index 5d28291..b5cb7a9 100644
--- a/examples/pipeline.full.annotated.yml
+++ b/examples/pipeline.full.annotated.yml
@@ -133,9 +133,7 @@ scriptorium:
           source: narratio.transcript.trimmed
           required: true
         previous_recap:
-          source: previous_session_artifact
-          artifact: session_recap
-          path: ""
+          source: narratio.previous_session.artifact.session_recap
           required: false
       vars:
         session_id: true
diff --git a/examples/pipeline.production.yml b/examples/pipeline.production.yml
index bc928e5..e26fc52 100644
--- a/examples/pipeline.production.yml
+++ b/examples/pipeline.production.yml
@@ -81,8 +81,7 @@ scriptorium:
           source: narratio.transcript.trimmed
           required: true
         previous_recap:
-          source: previous_session_artifact
-          artifact: session_recap
+          source: narratio.previous_session.artifact.session_recap
           required: false
       vars:
         session_id: true
diff --git a/internal/app/restore_workflow_test.go b/internal/app/restore_workflow_test.go
index 15f001e..12ce4cc 100644
--- a/internal/app/restore_workflow_test.go
+++ b/internal/app/restore_workflow_test.go
@@ -155,6 +155,116 @@ func TestRestoreThenRunStageForceAnalyzeUsesRestoredDurableState(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestRestoreThenAnalyzeUsesRestoredPreviousCacheWithoutObjectStore(t *testing.T) {
+	workspaceRoot := t.TempDir()
+	pipelinePath, sessionPath := writeValidConfigFiles(t, workspaceRoot)
+	appendRestoreWorkflowScriptoriumConfig(t, pipelinePath, `
+scriptorium:
+  binary: scriptorium
+  artifacts:
+    session_recap:
+      enabled: true
+      prompt_id: dnd.session_recap
+      output_path: artifacts/session_recap.md
+      inputs:
+        transcript:
+          source: narratio.transcript.trimmed
+          required: true
+        previous_recap:
+          source: narratio.previous_session.artifact.session_recap
+          required: true
+`)
+
+	fakeStore := &storage.FakeBackend{}
+	cfg, sessionPrefix, manifestKey, runIDKey := seedRestoreCommittedState(t, fakeStore, pipelinePath, sessionPath)
+	seedRestoreObject(fakeStore, runIDKey, []byte("20260519T010203Z-a1b2c3d4\n"))
+	seedRestoreObject(fakeStore, manifestKey, restoreWorkflowManifestJSON(t, cfg.Session.SessionID, cfg.Session.Campaign))
+	seedRestoreObject(fakeStore, sessionPrefix+"transcripts/trimmed.json", []byte(`{"segments":[]}`+"\n"))
+	seedRestoreObject(fakeStore, sessionPrefix+"previous/manifest.json", []byte(`{"session_id":"2026-04-26"}`))
+	seedRestoreObject(fakeStore, sessionPrefix+"previous/artifacts/session_recap.md", []byte("# previous recap\n"))
+
+	restoreWithStoreAndRealPhases(t, fakeStore)
+
+	var stdout bytes.Buffer
+	var stderr bytes.Buffer
+	restoreCode := Execute(
+		[]string{
+			"restore",
+			"--config", pipelinePath,
+			"--session", sessionPath,
+			"--session-id", cfg.Session.SessionID,
+		},
+		&stdout,
+		&stderr,
+	)
+	if restoreCode != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("restore exit code = %d, want 0; stderr=%q", restoreCode, stderr.String())
+	}
+	if stderr.Len() != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("restore stderr = %q, want empty", stderr.String())
+	}
+
+	sessionRoot := artifacts.SessionWorkDirForCampaign(workspaceRoot, cfg.Session.Campaign, cfg.Session.SessionID)
+	mustReadEquals(t, filepath.Join(sessionRoot, "transcripts", "trimmed.json"), `{"segments":[]}`+"\n")
+	mustReadEquals(t, filepath.Join(sessionRoot, "previous", "manifest.json"), `{"session_id":"2026-04-26"}`)
+	mustReadEquals(t, filepath.Join(sessionRoot, "previous", "artifacts", "session_recap.md"), "# previous recap\n")
+
+	scriptoriumFake := &scriptorium.FakeRunner{}
+	origExecuteStagesFn := executeStagesFn
+	origObjectStoreFn := newObjectStoreFromConfigFn
+	objectStoreConstructed := false
+	t.Cleanup(func() {
+		executeStagesFn = origExecuteStagesFn
+		newObjectStoreFromConfigFn = origObjectStoreFn
+	})
+	executeStagesFn = func(ctx context.Context, cfg *config.Config, stages []stage.Stage, opts RunOptions) (*RunSummary, error) {
+		if opts.Env == nil {
+			opts.Env = &Env{}
+		}
+		opts.Env.Scriptorium = scriptoriumFake
+		return executeStages(ctx, cfg, stages, opts)
+	}
+	newObjectStoreFromConfigFn = func(context.Context, *config.Config) (storage.ObjectStore, error) {
+		objectStoreConstructed = true
+		return nil, context.Canceled
+	}
+
+	stdout.Reset()
+	stderr.Reset()
+	runStageCode := Execute(
+		[]string{
+			"run-stage",
+			"--config", pipelinePath,
+			"--session", sessionPath,
+			"--session-id", cfg.Session.SessionID,
+			"--force",
+			"--artifacts", "session_recap",
+			"analyze",
+		},
+		&stdout,
+		&stderr,
+	)
+	if runStageCode != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("run-stage exit code = %d, want 0; stderr=%q", runStageCode, stderr.String())
+	}
+	if stderr.Len() != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("run-stage stderr = %q, want empty", stderr.String())
+	}
+	if objectStoreConstructed {
+		t.Fatal("analyze run-stage should not construct object store for previous-session input resolution")
+	}
+	if len(scriptoriumFake.RunRequests) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("scriptorium run requests = %d, want 1", len(scriptoriumFake.RunRequests))
+	}
+	req := scriptoriumFake.RunRequests[0]
+	if got := req.InputPaths["transcript"]; got != filepath.Join(sessionRoot, "transcripts", "trimmed.json") {
+		t.Fatalf("transcript input = %q, want trimmed transcript path", got)
+	}
+	if got := req.InputPaths["previous_recap"]; got != filepath.Join(sessionRoot, "previous", "artifacts", "session_recap.md") {
+		t.Fatalf("previous_recap input = %q, want restored previous cache path", got)
+	}
+}
+
 func restoreWorkflowManifestJSON(t *testing.T, sessionID, campaign string) []byte {
 	t.Helper()
 	store := &manifest.LocalStore{}
@@ -176,3 +286,15 @@ func restoreWorkflowManifestJSON(t *testing.T, sessionID, campaign string) []byt
 	}
 	return data
 }
+
+func appendRestoreWorkflowScriptoriumConfig(t *testing.T, pipelinePath, extra string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	f, err := os.OpenFile(pipelinePath, os.O_APPEND|os.O_WRONLY, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("open pipeline config for append: %v", err)
+	}
+	defer f.Close()
+	if _, err := f.WriteString(extra); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("append pipeline config: %v", err)
+	}
+}