diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4669b05..3957ad8 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -103,3 +103,13 @@ Integration tests are run by
     pytest tests/
 
 This will perform all the tests in `tests/` and its subfolders.
+
+## Retired repositories
+
+The following `itpplasma` repositories are obsolete and have been retired
+(see issue #17); they are neither maintained nor cloned by `scripts/clone_all.sh`:
+
+- `magdif` — obsolete, functionality superseded by `itpplasma/MEPHIT`
+- `NEO-EQ` — obsolete, functionality superseded by `itpplasma/MEPHIT`
+- `magfie` — retired/removed
+
diff --git a/scripts/clone_all.sh b/scripts/clone_all.sh
index 08a4bcd..456f1ec 100755
--- a/scripts/clone_all.sh
+++ b/scripts/clone_all.sh
@@ -1,7 +1,16 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 
+# GitHub repositories maintained and cloned by this meta-repository
+# (see https://github.com/itpplasma). Retired/obsolete repositories are
+# intentionally omitted; see "Retired repositories" below.
 GITHUB_REPOS="libneo spline BOOZER_MAGFIE SIMPLE GORILLA GORILLA_APPLETS NEO-2 NEO-RT MEPHIT KAMEL"
 
+# Retired repositories (archived/deleted, no longer cloned):
+#   magdif  - obsolete, successor is itpplasma/MEPHIT (issue #17)
+#   NEO-EQ  - obsolete, successor is itpplasma/MEPHIT (issue #17)
+#   magfie  - retired/removed (issue #17)
+# Keep these names out of GITHUB_REPOS above.
+
 for REPO in $GITHUB_REPOS; do
     clone_github $REPO
 done