feat: support curated historical projects

AGENTS.md

@@ -89,6 +89,9 @@ Rules:
   marketing repository as repository-less for every eligibility check.
 - Backtick tags are optional only for commercial services and other metadata-free
   sections such as `Related Lists`.
+- `Historical & Archived Projects` is the documented exception to normal activity and
+  archive-state requirements. Entries still require substantive, reachable, documented source
+  and the `Historical` tag; use `CONTRIBUTING.md` for eligibility.
 - Use `CONTRIBUTING.md` as the user-facing source for contribution rules.
 
 ## PR Review Workflow

CONTRIBUTING.md

@@ -75,9 +75,15 @@ Link to the PyPI package page. If the project has a GitHub repo, append it after
 
 ## Quality Requirements
 
-- **Source-backed projects**: Projects backed by substantive source must show recent
-  repository activity (commits within the last 12 months) and provide a clear README with
-  usage examples.
+- **Active source-backed projects**: Projects backed by substantive source in the active
+  categories must show recent repository activity (commits within the last 12 months) and
+  provide a clear README with usage examples.
+- **Historical & Archived Projects**: This category is the narrow exception to the active
+  activity and archive-state requirements. An entry must use `Historical` plus a language or
+  runtime tag, link to reachable substantive source or documentation, state a specific
+  historical, educational, or foundational reason to retain the project, and clearly disclose
+  that it is archived or unmaintained. It is not for thin wrappers, tutorials, generated data,
+  marketing material, unsupported SDKs, or duplicate implementations.
 - **Repository-less commercial services**: See the permanent-free-tier, public-documentation,
   and transparency rules in the commercial section below.
 
@@ -128,6 +134,7 @@ The README is organized by **category** (not by language). Add your entry under
 - Cross-Language Frameworks
 - Reproducing Works, Training & Books
 - Commercial & Proprietary Services
+- Historical & Archived Projects
 - Related Lists
 
 For example, if your project is a Python backtesting library, it goes under `## Trading & Backtesting` (not under Technical Indicators or another category).
@@ -183,5 +190,6 @@ PRs will be closed if:
 - Multiple unrelated projects added in a single PR without a clear grouping rationale.
 - Entry format does not match the required pattern.
 - Duplicate of an existing entry or a recently closed PR.
-- Project is archived or abandoned.
+- Project is archived or abandoned, unless it meets the documented
+  **Historical & Archived Projects** eligibility criteria.
 - Empty PR description.

scripts/review_pr.py

@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ if str(ROOT) not in sys.path:
 from scripts.readme_entries import (
     ENTRY_RE,
     GITHUB_LINK_RE,
+    HISTORICAL_SECTION,
+    HISTORICAL_TAG,
     MARKDOWN_URL_RE,
     VALID_SECTIONS,
     extract_languages,
@@ -531,6 +533,7 @@ def review_entry(
     url = match.group(2).strip()
     tail = match.group(3).strip()
     tags, clean_description = extract_languages(tail)
+    is_historical = section == HISTORICAL_SECTION
 
     if section not in VALID_SECTIONS:
         findings.append(
@@ -540,6 +543,22 @@ def review_entry(
     if section not in NO_TAG_SECTIONS and not tags:
         findings.append(Finding("tags", "missing required backtick tag prefix"))
 
+    if is_historical and HISTORICAL_TAG not in tags:
+        findings.append(
+            Finding(
+                "historical-tag",
+                "Historical & Archived Projects entries must include the `Historical` tag",
+            )
+        )
+
+    if is_historical and not any(tag != HISTORICAL_TAG for tag in tags):
+        findings.append(
+            Finding(
+                "tags",
+                "Historical & Archived Projects entries require a language or runtime tag",
+            )
+        )
+
     github_label_count = clean_description.count("[GitHub](")
     github_marker = clean_description.rfind("[GitHub](")
     github_suffix = (
@@ -602,10 +621,10 @@ def review_entry(
         else:
             owner, repo_name = repository_parts
             github_repo = client.get_repo(f"{owner}/{repo_name}")
-            if github_repo.archived:
+            if github_repo.archived and not is_historical:
                 findings.append(Finding("activity", "repository is archived"))
             pushed_at = github_repo.pushed_at
-            if (
+            if not is_historical and (
                 pushed_at is None
                 or pushed_at < current_time - timedelta(days=365)
             ):

tests/test_review_pr.py

@@ -1040,6 +1040,40 @@ class ValidationPipelineTests(unittest.TestCase):
             self.review(configure_project=make_stale),
         )
 
+    def test_accepts_archived_stale_historical_repository(self):
+        def make_historical(repository):
+            repository.archived = True
+            repository.pushed_at = NOW - timedelta(days=366)
+
+        patch_text = VALID_PATCH.replace(
+            "Trading & Backtesting",
+            "Historical & Archived Projects",
+        ).replace(
+            "`Python` - Fresh project.",
+            "`Python` `Historical` - Archived reference retained for its early design.",
+        )
+
+        self.assertNotIn(
+            "activity",
+            self.review(patch_text=patch_text, configure_project=make_historical),
+        )
+
+    def test_requires_historical_tag_for_historical_repository(self):
+        patch_text = VALID_PATCH.replace(
+            "Trading & Backtesting",
+            "Historical & Archived Projects",
+        )
+
+        self.assertIn("historical-tag", self.review(patch_text=patch_text))
+
+    def test_requires_non_status_tag_for_historical_repository(self):
+        patch_text = VALID_PATCH.replace(
+            "Trading & Backtesting",
+            "Historical & Archived Projects",
+        ).replace("`Python` - Fresh project.", "`Historical` - Historical project.")
+
+        self.assertIn("tags", self.review(patch_text=patch_text))
+
     def test_rejects_repository_without_readme(self):
         def remove_readme(repository):
             repository.has_root_readme = False