diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index ba3ff1f..8c93fd9 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -4,3 +4,20 @@ management/app.ini
 # Backup files
 *.backup
 *.bak
+
+# SSH keys and certificates (never commit private keys)
+# NOTE: Firefrost_key.ppk is intentionally tracked temporarily - remove when no longer needed
+*.pem
+*.key
+*.p12
+*.pfx
+# *.ppk  <- intentionally commented out until Firefrost_key.ppk is no longer needed
+
+# Environment and secrets
+.env
+.env.*
+*.secret
+
+# OS clutter
+.DS_Store
+Thumbs.db
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diff --git a/NEXT-SESSION-STARTUP-PROMPT.md b/docs/archive/root-cleanup-2026-03-28/NEXT-SESSION-STARTUP-PROMPT.md
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diff --git a/docs/archive/root-cleanup-2026-03-28/README.md b/docs/archive/root-cleanup-2026-03-28/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a77dd53
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/archive/root-cleanup-2026-03-28/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+# Root Cleanup — March 28, 2026
+
+**Performed by:** Chronicler #45  
+**Reason:** Full repository audit revealed 40 markdown files accumulated in the root directory over many sessions. Root should only contain essential navigation files.
+
+## What Was Here
+
+These files were created by early Chroniclers (roughly #1–#33) as session handoffs, status snapshots, and start prompts. Over time they were superseded by the structured `docs/` hierarchy but never cleaned up.
+
+**None of these files are deleted — they are archived here for historical reference.**
+
+## Files Archived
+
+### Old Session Handoffs
+- `NEXT-SESSION-HANDOFF.md`
+- `NEXT-SESSION-PRIORITY.md`
+- `NEXT-SESSION-PROMPT.md`
+- `NEXT-SESSION-START-PROMPT.md`
+- `NEXT-SESSION-START.md`
+- `NEXT-SESSION-STARTUP-PROMPT.md`
+- `SESSION-20-HANDOFF-CODEX.md`
+- `SESSION-21-HANDOFF.md`
+- `SESSION-HANDOFF-AUDITOR.md`
+- `SESSION-HANDOFF-CHRONICLER-33.md`
+- `SESSION-END-CHECKLIST.md`
+
+### Old Start Prompt Variants
+- `SESSION-START-PROMPT.md`
+- `SESSION-START-PROMPT-CORRECTED.md`
+- `SESSION-START-PROMPT-FOR-23.md`
+- `SESSION-START-PROMPT-MINIMAL.md`
+- `SESSION-START-PROMPT-TEMPLATE.md`
+- `SESSION-START-MINIMAL.md`
+- `CUSTOM-PROMPT-FOR-SESSIONS.md`
+- `EMERGENCY-STARTER-PROMPT.md`
+- `MANDATORY-READING-ORDER.md`
+- `SUCCESSOR-PROMPT-DEPLOYER.md`
+
+### Status Snapshots
+- `CURRENT-CONTEXT.md`
+- `CURRENT-STATUS.md`
+- `DEPLOYMENT-AUDIT-CHECKLIST.md`
+- `DEPLOYMENT-STATUS-AUDIT.md`
+- `CODEX-DOCUMENTATION-SUMMARY.md`
+- `RESTRUCTURING-SUMMARY-2026-02-19.md`
+- `README-INDEX.md`
+
+## What Stayed at Root
+
+The root now contains only:
+- `README.md` — Repo introduction
+- `CHANGELOG.md` — Change log
+- `DOCUMENT-INDEX.md` — Master document map
+- `SESSION-HANDOFF-NEXT.md` — Current handoff (always current)
+- `SESSION-HANDOFF-PREVIOUS.md` — Previous handoff (one back)
+- `SESSION-HANDOFF-PROTOCOL.md` — How sessions work
+- `SESSION-HANDOFF-TEMPLATE.md` — Template for new handoffs
+
+## Pokerole Files
+
+Five Pokerole root files were moved to `docs/external/holly-project/` where they belong:
+- `POKEROLE-API-STATUS-FINAL.md`
+- `POKEROLE-GRAPHQL-API-ENABLED.md`
+- `POKEROLE-WIKI-DEPLOYMENT-COMPLETE.md`
+- `POKEROLE-WIKI-MISSION-SUCCESS.md`
+- `POKEROLE-WIKI-QUICK-REF.md`
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