diff --git a/PORTABLE_ARTIFACTS.md b/PORTABLE_ARTIFACTS.md
index bd9b03d..cb92feb 100644
--- a/PORTABLE_ARTIFACTS.md
+++ b/PORTABLE_ARTIFACTS.md
@@ -1,5 +1,11 @@
 # Checked capability and component artifacts
 
+This is the **current helper/output format**, not the core package abstraction.
+See [the architecture](../../docs/ARCHITECTURE.md) and
+[current gaps](../../docs/ARCHITECTURE_STATUS.md). In particular, the universal
+artifact inventory and component-only omission of a server are implementation
+gaps to resolve, not requirements for arbitrary package servers.
+
 `mkCaminoArtifacts` is the fresh package builder. It regenerates candidate
 bindings, typechecks the entry's dependency closure, bundles declared targets,
 generates a process service when requested, and emits content manifests and