diff --git a/docs/internals/data-structures.rst b/docs/internals/data-structures.rst
index 761478763..8d1562ff2 100644
--- a/docs/internals/data-structures.rst
+++ b/docs/internals/data-structures.rst
@@ -365,7 +365,6 @@ or modified. It looks like this:
                 'time': '2017-05-05T12:42:22.942864',
             },
         },
-        'tam': ...,
     }
 
 The *version* field can be either 1 or 2. The versions differ in the
@@ -379,10 +378,6 @@ the repository. It is used by *borg check*, which verifies that all keys
 in all items are a subset of these keys. Thus, an older version of *borg check*
 supporting this mechanism can correctly detect keys introduced in later versions.
 
-The *tam* key is part of the :ref:`tertiary authentication mechanism <tam_description>`
-(formerly known as "tertiary authentication for metadata") and authenticates
-the manifest, since an ID check is not possible.
-
 *config* is a general-purpose location for additional metadata. All versions
 of Borg preserve its contents.
 
diff --git a/docs/internals/security.rst b/docs/internals/security.rst
index 38d693d0a..fef56d610 100644
--- a/docs/internals/security.rst
+++ b/docs/internals/security.rst
@@ -67,43 +67,26 @@ in a particular part of its own data structure assigns this meaning.
 This results in a directed acyclic graph of authentication from the manifest
 to the data chunks of individual files.
 
-.. _tam_description:
+Above used to be all for borg 1.x and was the reason why it needed the
+tertiary authentication mechanism (TAM) for manifest and archives.
 
-.. rubric:: Authenticating the manifest
+borg 2 now stores the ro_type ("meaning") of a repo object's data into that
+object's metadata (like e.g.: manifest vs. archive vs. user file content data).
+When loading data from the repo, borg verifies that the type of object it got
+matches the type it wanted. borg 2 does not use TAMs any more.
 
-Since the manifest has a fixed ID (000...000) the aforementioned authentication
-does not apply to it, indeed, cannot apply to it; it is impossible to authenticate
-the root node of a DAG through its edges, since the root node has no incoming edges.
+As both the object's metadata and data are AEAD encrypted and also bound to
+the object ID (via giving the ID as AAD), there is no way an attacker (without
+access to the borg key) could change the type of the object or move content
+to a different object ID.
 
-With the scheme as described so far an attacker could easily replace the manifest,
-therefore Borg includes a tertiary authentication mechanism (TAM) that is applied
-to the manifest (see :ref:`tam_vuln`).
+This effectively 'anchors' the manifest (and also other metadata, like archives)
+to the key, which is controlled by the client, thereby anchoring the entire DAG,
+making it impossible for an attacker to add, remove or modify any part of the
+DAG without Borg being able to detect the tampering.
 
-TAM works by deriving a separate key through HKDF_ from the other encryption and
-authentication keys and calculating the HMAC of the metadata to authenticate [#]_::
-
-    # RANDOM(n) returns n random bytes
-    salt = RANDOM(64)
-
-    ikm = id_key || crypt_key
-    # *context* depends on the operation, for manifest authentication it is
-    # the ASCII string "borg-metadata-authentication-manifest".
-    tam_key = HKDF-SHA-512(ikm, salt, context)
-
-    # *data* is a dict-like structure
-    data[hmac] = zeroes
-    packed = pack(data)
-    data[hmac] = HMAC(tam_key, packed)
-    packed_authenticated = pack(data)
-
-Since an attacker cannot gain access to this key and also cannot make the
-client authenticate arbitrary data using this mechanism, the attacker is unable
-to forge the authentication.
-
-This effectively 'anchors' the manifest to the key, which is controlled by the
-client, thereby anchoring the entire DAG, making it impossible for an attacker
-to add, remove or modify any part of the DAG without Borg being able to detect
-the tampering.
+Passphrase notes
+----------------
 
 Note that when using BORG_PASSPHRASE the attacker cannot swap the *entire*
 repository against a new repository with e.g. repokey mode and no passphrase,
@@ -113,11 +96,6 @@ However, interactively a user might not notice this kind of attack
 immediately, if she assumes that the reason for the absent passphrase
 prompt is a set BORG_PASSPHRASE. See issue :issue:`2169` for details.
 
-.. [#] The reason why the authentication tag is stored in the packed
-       data itself is that older Borg versions can still read the
-       manifest this way, while a changed layout would have broken
-       compatibility.
-
 .. _security_encryption:
 
 Encryption
diff --git a/src/borg/archive.py b/src/borg/archive.py
index 8d85724c8..b048d5c16 100644
--- a/src/borg/archive.py
+++ b/src/borg/archive.py
@@ -296,7 +296,7 @@ class DownloadPipeline:
         """
         hlids_preloaded = set()
         unpacker = msgpack.Unpacker(use_list=False)
-        for data in self.fetch_many(ids):
+        for data in self.fetch_many(ids, ro_type=ROBJ_ARCHIVE_STREAM):
             unpacker.feed(data)
             for _item in unpacker:
                 item = Item(internal_dict=_item)
@@ -318,9 +318,10 @@ class DownloadPipeline:
                         self.repository.preload([c.id for c in item.chunks])
                 yield item
 
-    def fetch_many(self, ids, is_preloaded=False):
+    def fetch_many(self, ids, is_preloaded=False, ro_type=None):
+        assert ro_type is not None
         for id_, cdata in zip(ids, self.repository.get_many(ids, is_preloaded=is_preloaded)):
-            _, data = self.repo_objs.parse(id_, cdata)
+            _, data = self.repo_objs.parse(id_, cdata, ro_type=ro_type)
             yield data
 
 
@@ -393,7 +394,9 @@ class CacheChunkBuffer(ChunkBuffer):
         self.stats = stats
 
     def write_chunk(self, chunk):
-        id_, _ = self.cache.add_chunk(self.key.id_hash(chunk), {}, chunk, stats=self.stats, wait=False)
+        id_, _ = self.cache.add_chunk(
+            self.key.id_hash(chunk), {}, chunk, stats=self.stats, wait=False, ro_type=ROBJ_ARCHIVE_STREAM
+        )
         logger.debug(f"writing item metadata stream chunk {bin_to_hex(id_)}")
         self.cache.repository.async_response(wait=False)
         return id_
@@ -422,7 +425,7 @@ def archive_get_items(metadata, *, repo_objs, repository):
         assert "items" not in metadata
         items = []
         for id, cdata in zip(metadata.item_ptrs, repository.get_many(metadata.item_ptrs)):
-            _, data = repo_objs.parse(id, cdata)
+            _, data = repo_objs.parse(id, cdata, ro_type=ROBJ_ARCHIVE_CHUNKIDS)
             ids = msgpack.unpackb(data)
             items.extend(ids)
         return items
@@ -440,9 +443,9 @@ def archive_put_items(chunk_ids, *, repo_objs, cache=None, stats=None, add_refer
         id = repo_objs.id_hash(data)
         logger.debug(f"writing item_ptrs chunk {bin_to_hex(id)}")
         if cache is not None and stats is not None:
-            cache.add_chunk(id, {}, data, stats=stats)
+            cache.add_chunk(id, {}, data, stats=stats, ro_type=ROBJ_ARCHIVE_CHUNKIDS)
         elif add_reference is not None:
-            cdata = repo_objs.format(id, {}, data)
+            cdata = repo_objs.format(id, {}, data, ro_type=ROBJ_ARCHIVE_CHUNKIDS)
             add_reference(id, len(data), cdata)
         else:
             raise NotImplementedError
@@ -531,8 +534,8 @@ class Archive:
 
     def _load_meta(self, id):
         cdata = self.repository.get(id)
-        _, data = self.repo_objs.parse(id, cdata)
-        archive, _ = self.key.unpack_and_verify_archive(data)
+        _, data = self.repo_objs.parse(id, cdata, ro_type=ROBJ_ARCHIVE_META)
+        archive = self.key.unpack_archive(data)
         metadata = ArchiveItem(internal_dict=archive)
         if metadata.version not in (1, 2):  # legacy: still need to read v1 archives
             raise Exception("Unknown archive metadata version")
@@ -699,10 +702,10 @@ Duration: {0.duration}
         metadata.update({"size": stats.osize, "nfiles": stats.nfiles})
         metadata.update(additional_metadata or {})
         metadata = ArchiveItem(metadata)
-        data = self.key.pack_and_authenticate_metadata(metadata.as_dict(), context=b"archive")
+        data = self.key.pack_metadata(metadata.as_dict())
         self.id = self.repo_objs.id_hash(data)
         try:
-            self.cache.add_chunk(self.id, {}, data, stats=self.stats)
+            self.cache.add_chunk(self.id, {}, data, stats=self.stats, ro_type=ROBJ_ARCHIVE_META)
         except IntegrityError as err:
             err_msg = str(err)
             # hack to avoid changing the RPC protocol by introducing new (more specific) exception class
@@ -740,7 +743,7 @@ Duration: {0.duration}
             for id, chunk in zip(self.metadata.items, self.repository.get_many(self.metadata.items)):
                 pi.show(increase=1)
                 add(id)
-                _, data = self.repo_objs.parse(id, chunk)
+                _, data = self.repo_objs.parse(id, chunk, ro_type=ROBJ_ARCHIVE_STREAM)
                 sync.feed(data)
             unique_size = archive_index.stats_against(cache.chunks)[1]
             pi.finish()
@@ -826,7 +829,9 @@ Duration: {0.duration}
                     # it would get stuck.
                     if "chunks" in item:
                         item_chunks_size = 0
-                        for data in self.pipeline.fetch_many([c.id for c in item.chunks], is_preloaded=True):
+                        for data in self.pipeline.fetch_many(
+                            [c.id for c in item.chunks], is_preloaded=True, ro_type=ROBJ_FILE_STREAM
+                        ):
                             if pi:
                                 pi.show(increase=len(data), info=[remove_surrogates(item.path)])
                             if stdout:
@@ -878,7 +883,7 @@ Duration: {0.duration}
                     fd = open(path, "wb")
                 with fd:
                     ids = [c.id for c in item.chunks]
-                    for data in self.pipeline.fetch_many(ids, is_preloaded=True):
+                    for data in self.pipeline.fetch_many(ids, is_preloaded=True, ro_type=ROBJ_FILE_STREAM):
                         if pi:
                             pi.show(increase=len(data), info=[remove_surrogates(item.path)])
                         with backup_io("write"):
@@ -1025,9 +1030,9 @@ Duration: {0.duration}
         setattr(metadata, key, value)
         if "items" in metadata:
             del metadata.items
-        data = self.key.pack_and_authenticate_metadata(metadata.as_dict(), context=b"archive")
+        data = self.key.pack_metadata(metadata.as_dict())
         new_id = self.key.id_hash(data)
-        self.cache.add_chunk(new_id, {}, data, stats=self.stats)
+        self.cache.add_chunk(new_id, {}, data, stats=self.stats, ro_type=ROBJ_ARCHIVE_META)
         self.manifest.archives[self.name] = (new_id, metadata.time)
         self.cache.chunk_decref(self.id, self.stats)
         self.id = new_id
@@ -1076,7 +1081,7 @@ Duration: {0.duration}
             for i, (items_id, data) in enumerate(zip(items_ids, self.repository.get_many(items_ids))):
                 if progress:
                     pi.show(i)
-                _, data = self.repo_objs.parse(items_id, data)
+                _, data = self.repo_objs.parse(items_id, data, ro_type=ROBJ_ARCHIVE_STREAM)
                 unpacker.feed(data)
                 chunk_decref(items_id, stats)
                 try:
@@ -1132,8 +1137,8 @@ Duration: {0.duration}
                 path,
                 item1,
                 item2,
-                archive1.pipeline.fetch_many([c.id for c in item1.get("chunks", [])]),
-                archive2.pipeline.fetch_many([c.id for c in item2.get("chunks", [])]),
+                archive1.pipeline.fetch_many([c.id for c in item1.get("chunks", [])], ro_type=ROBJ_FILE_STREAM),
+                archive2.pipeline.fetch_many([c.id for c in item2.get("chunks", [])], ro_type=ROBJ_FILE_STREAM),
                 can_compare_chunk_ids=can_compare_chunk_ids,
             )
 
@@ -1319,7 +1324,7 @@ class ChunksProcessor:
                 started_hashing = time.monotonic()
                 chunk_id, data = cached_hash(chunk, self.key.id_hash)
                 stats.hashing_time += time.monotonic() - started_hashing
-                chunk_entry = cache.add_chunk(chunk_id, {}, data, stats=stats, wait=False)
+                chunk_entry = cache.add_chunk(chunk_id, {}, data, stats=stats, wait=False, ro_type=ROBJ_FILE_STREAM)
                 self.cache.repository.async_response(wait=False)
                 return chunk_entry
 
@@ -1898,7 +1903,7 @@ class ArchiveChecker:
                 else:
                     try:
                         # we must decompress, so it'll call assert_id() in there:
-                        self.repo_objs.parse(chunk_id, encrypted_data, decompress=True)
+                        self.repo_objs.parse(chunk_id, encrypted_data, decompress=True, ro_type=ROBJ_DONTCARE)
                     except IntegrityErrorBase as integrity_error:
                         self.error_found = True
                         errors += 1
@@ -1930,7 +1935,7 @@ class ArchiveChecker:
                     try:
                         encrypted_data = self.repository.get(defect_chunk)
                         # we must decompress, so it'll call assert_id() in there:
-                        self.repo_objs.parse(defect_chunk, encrypted_data, decompress=True)
+                        self.repo_objs.parse(defect_chunk, encrypted_data, decompress=True, ro_type=ROBJ_DONTCARE)
                     except IntegrityErrorBase:
                         # failed twice -> get rid of this chunk
                         del self.chunks[defect_chunk]
@@ -1970,7 +1975,6 @@ class ArchiveChecker:
         # lost manifest on a older borg version than the most recent one that was ever used
         # within this repository (assuming that newer borg versions support more item keys).
         manifest = Manifest(self.key, self.repository)
-        archive_keys_serialized = [msgpack.packb(name) for name in ARCHIVE_KEYS]
         pi = ProgressIndicatorPercent(
             total=len(self.chunks), msg="Rebuilding manifest %6.2f%%", step=0.01, msgid="check.rebuild_manifest"
         )
@@ -1978,14 +1982,12 @@ class ArchiveChecker:
             pi.show()
             cdata = self.repository.get(chunk_id)
             try:
-                _, data = self.repo_objs.parse(chunk_id, cdata)
+                meta, data = self.repo_objs.parse(chunk_id, cdata, ro_type=ROBJ_DONTCARE)
             except IntegrityErrorBase as exc:
                 logger.error("Skipping corrupted chunk: %s", exc)
                 self.error_found = True
                 continue
-            if not valid_msgpacked_dict(data, archive_keys_serialized):
-                continue
-            if b"command_line" not in data or b"\xa7version\x02" not in data:
+            if meta["type"] != ROBJ_ARCHIVE_META:
                 continue
             try:
                 archive = msgpack.unpackb(data)
@@ -1993,23 +1995,7 @@ class ArchiveChecker:
             except msgpack.UnpackException:
                 continue
             if valid_archive(archive):
-                # **after** doing the low-level checks and having a strong indication that we
-                # are likely looking at an archive item here, also check the TAM authentication:
-                try:
-                    archive, _ = self.key.unpack_and_verify_archive(data)
-                except IntegrityError as integrity_error:
-                    # TAM issues - do not accept this archive!
-                    # either somebody is trying to attack us with a fake archive data or
-                    # we have an ancient archive made before TAM was a thing (borg < 1.0.9) **and** this repo
-                    # was not correctly upgraded to borg 1.2.5 (see advisory at top of the changelog).
-                    # borg can't tell the difference, so it has to assume this archive might be an attack
-                    # and drops this archive.
-                    name = archive.get(b"name", b"<unknown>").decode("ascii", "replace")
-                    logger.error("Archive TAM authentication issue for archive %s: %s", name, integrity_error)
-                    logger.error("This archive will *not* be added to the rebuilt manifest! It will be deleted.")
-                    self.error_found = True
-                    continue
-                # note: if we get here and verified is False, a TAM is not required.
+                archive = self.key.unpack_archive(data)
                 archive = ArchiveItem(internal_dict=archive)
                 name = archive.name
                 logger.info("Found archive %s", name)
@@ -2043,7 +2029,7 @@ class ArchiveChecker:
 
         def add_callback(chunk):
             id_ = self.key.id_hash(chunk)
-            cdata = self.repo_objs.format(id_, {}, chunk)
+            cdata = self.repo_objs.format(id_, {}, chunk, ro_type=ROBJ_ARCHIVE_STREAM)
             add_reference(id_, len(chunk), cdata)
             return id_
 
@@ -2066,7 +2052,7 @@ class ArchiveChecker:
             def replacement_chunk(size):
                 chunk = Chunk(None, allocation=CH_ALLOC, size=size)
                 chunk_id, data = cached_hash(chunk, self.key.id_hash)
-                cdata = self.repo_objs.format(chunk_id, {}, data)
+                cdata = self.repo_objs.format(chunk_id, {}, data, ro_type=ROBJ_FILE_STREAM)
                 return chunk_id, size, cdata
 
             offset = 0
@@ -2197,7 +2183,7 @@ class ArchiveChecker:
                     unpacker.resync()
                 for chunk_id, cdata in zip(items, repository.get_many(items)):
                     try:
-                        _, data = self.repo_objs.parse(chunk_id, cdata)
+                        _, data = self.repo_objs.parse(chunk_id, cdata, ro_type=ROBJ_ARCHIVE_STREAM)
                         unpacker.feed(data)
                         for item in unpacker:
                             valid, reason = valid_item(item)
@@ -2260,23 +2246,13 @@ class ArchiveChecker:
                 mark_as_possibly_superseded(archive_id)
                 cdata = self.repository.get(archive_id)
                 try:
-                    _, data = self.repo_objs.parse(archive_id, cdata)
+                    _, data = self.repo_objs.parse(archive_id, cdata, ro_type=ROBJ_ARCHIVE_META)
                 except IntegrityError as integrity_error:
                     logger.error("Archive metadata block %s is corrupted: %s", bin_to_hex(archive_id), integrity_error)
                     self.error_found = True
                     del self.manifest.archives[info.name]
                     continue
-                try:
-                    archive, salt = self.key.unpack_and_verify_archive(data)
-                except IntegrityError as integrity_error:
-                    # looks like there is a TAM issue with this archive, this might be an attack!
-                    # when upgrading to borg 1.2.5, users are expected to TAM-authenticate all archives they
-                    # trust, so there shouldn't be any without TAM.
-                    logger.error("Archive TAM authentication issue for archive %s: %s", info.name, integrity_error)
-                    logger.error("This archive will be *removed* from the manifest! It will be deleted.")
-                    self.error_found = True
-                    del self.manifest.archives[info.name]
-                    continue
+                archive = self.key.unpack_archive(data)
                 archive = ArchiveItem(internal_dict=archive)
                 if archive.version != 2:
                     raise Exception("Unknown archive metadata version")
@@ -2296,9 +2272,9 @@ class ArchiveChecker:
                 archive.item_ptrs = archive_put_items(
                     items_buffer.chunks, repo_objs=self.repo_objs, add_reference=add_reference
                 )
-                data = self.key.pack_and_authenticate_metadata(archive.as_dict(), context=b"archive", salt=salt)
+                data = self.key.pack_metadata(archive.as_dict())
                 new_archive_id = self.key.id_hash(data)
-                cdata = self.repo_objs.format(new_archive_id, {}, data)
+                cdata = self.repo_objs.format(new_archive_id, {}, data, ro_type=ROBJ_ARCHIVE_META)
                 add_reference(new_archive_id, len(data), cdata)
                 self.manifest.archives[info.name] = (new_archive_id, info.ts)
             pi.finish()
@@ -2434,13 +2410,13 @@ class ArchiveRecreater:
         chunk_id, data = cached_hash(chunk, self.key.id_hash)
         if chunk_id in self.seen_chunks:
             return self.cache.chunk_incref(chunk_id, target.stats)
-        chunk_entry = self.cache.add_chunk(chunk_id, {}, data, stats=target.stats, wait=False)
+        chunk_entry = self.cache.add_chunk(chunk_id, {}, data, stats=target.stats, wait=False, ro_type=ROBJ_FILE_STREAM)
         self.cache.repository.async_response(wait=False)
         self.seen_chunks.add(chunk_entry.id)
         return chunk_entry
 
     def iter_chunks(self, archive, target, chunks):
-        chunk_iterator = archive.pipeline.fetch_many([chunk_id for chunk_id, _ in chunks])
+        chunk_iterator = archive.pipeline.fetch_many([chunk_id for chunk_id, _ in chunks], ro_type=ROBJ_FILE_STREAM)
         if target.recreate_rechunkify:
             # The target.chunker will read the file contents through ChunkIteratorFileWrapper chunk-by-chunk
             # (does not load the entire file into memory)
diff --git a/src/borg/archiver/debug_cmd.py b/src/borg/archiver/debug_cmd.py
index 6c0d1892f..cab8075c8 100644
--- a/src/borg/archiver/debug_cmd.py
+++ b/src/borg/archiver/debug_cmd.py
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ class DebugMixIn:
         repo_objs = manifest.repo_objs
         archive = Archive(manifest, args.name)
         for i, item_id in enumerate(archive.metadata.items):
-            _, data = repo_objs.parse(item_id, repository.get(item_id))
+            _, data = repo_objs.parse(item_id, repository.get(item_id), ro_type=ROBJ_ARCHIVE_STREAM)
             filename = "%06d_%s.items" % (i, bin_to_hex(item_id))
             print("Dumping", filename)
             with open(filename, "wb") as fd:
@@ -65,7 +65,8 @@ class DebugMixIn:
             fd.write(do_indent(prepare_dump_dict(archive_meta_orig)))
             fd.write(",\n")
 
-            _, data = repo_objs.parse(archive_meta_orig["id"], repository.get(archive_meta_orig["id"]))
+            archive_id = archive_meta_orig["id"]
+            _, data = repo_objs.parse(archive_id, repository.get(archive_id), ro_type=ROBJ_ARCHIVE_META)
             archive_org_dict = msgpack.unpackb(data, object_hook=StableDict)
 
             fd.write('    "_meta":\n')
@@ -77,10 +78,10 @@ class DebugMixIn:
             first = True
             items = []
             for chunk_id in archive_org_dict["item_ptrs"]:
-                _, data = repo_objs.parse(chunk_id, repository.get(chunk_id))
+                _, data = repo_objs.parse(chunk_id, repository.get(chunk_id), ro_type=ROBJ_ARCHIVE_CHUNKIDS)
                 items.extend(msgpack.unpackb(data))
             for item_id in items:
-                _, data = repo_objs.parse(item_id, repository.get(item_id))
+                _, data = repo_objs.parse(item_id, repository.get(item_id), ro_type=ROBJ_ARCHIVE_STREAM)
                 unpacker.feed(data)
                 for item in unpacker:
                     item = prepare_dump_dict(item)
@@ -101,7 +102,7 @@ class DebugMixIn:
     def do_debug_dump_manifest(self, args, repository, manifest):
         """dump decoded repository manifest"""
         repo_objs = manifest.repo_objs
-        _, data = repo_objs.parse(manifest.MANIFEST_ID, repository.get(manifest.MANIFEST_ID))
+        _, data = repo_objs.parse(manifest.MANIFEST_ID, repository.get(manifest.MANIFEST_ID), ro_type=ROBJ_MANIFEST)
 
         meta = prepare_dump_dict(msgpack.unpackb(data, object_hook=StableDict))
 
@@ -116,7 +117,7 @@ class DebugMixIn:
 
         def decrypt_dump(i, id, cdata, tag=None, segment=None, offset=None):
             if cdata is not None:
-                _, data = repo_objs.parse(id, cdata)
+                _, data = repo_objs.parse(id, cdata, ro_type=ROBJ_DONTCARE)
             else:
                 _, data = {}, b""
             tag_str = "" if tag is None else "_" + tag
@@ -211,7 +212,7 @@ class DebugMixIn:
                 break
             for id in ids:
                 cdata = repository.get(id)
-                _, data = repo_objs.parse(id, cdata)
+                _, data = repo_objs.parse(id, cdata, ro_type=ROBJ_DONTCARE)
 
                 # try to locate wanted sequence crossing the border of last_data and data
                 boundary_data = last_data[-(len(wanted) - 1) :] + data[: len(wanted) - 1]
@@ -284,7 +285,7 @@ class DebugMixIn:
             cdata = f.read()
 
         repo_objs = manifest.repo_objs
-        meta, data = repo_objs.parse(id=id, cdata=cdata)
+        meta, data = repo_objs.parse(id=id, cdata=cdata, ro_type=ROBJ_DONTCARE)
 
         with open(args.json_path, "w") as f:
             json.dump(meta, f)
@@ -315,7 +316,8 @@ class DebugMixIn:
             meta = json.load(f)
 
         repo_objs = manifest.repo_objs
-        data_encrypted = repo_objs.format(id=id, meta=meta, data=data)
+        # TODO: support misc repo object types other than ROBJ_FILE_STREAM
+        data_encrypted = repo_objs.format(id=id, meta=meta, data=data, ro_type=ROBJ_FILE_STREAM)
 
         with open(args.object_path, "wb") as f:
             f.write(data_encrypted)
diff --git a/src/borg/archiver/rcompress_cmd.py b/src/borg/archiver/rcompress_cmd.py
index 038fd70be..40d7571d0 100644
--- a/src/borg/archiver/rcompress_cmd.py
+++ b/src/borg/archiver/rcompress_cmd.py
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ def find_chunks(repository, repo_objs, stats, ctype, clevel, olevel):
         if not chunk_ids:
             break
         for id, chunk_no_data in zip(chunk_ids, repository.get_many(chunk_ids, read_data=False)):
-            meta = repo_objs.parse_meta(id, chunk_no_data)
+            meta = repo_objs.parse_meta(id, chunk_no_data, ro_type=ROBJ_DONTCARE)
             compr_found = meta["ctype"], meta["clevel"], meta.get("olevel", -1)
             if compr_found != compr_wanted:
                 recompress_ids.append(id)
@@ -57,13 +57,14 @@ def process_chunks(repository, repo_objs, stats, recompress_ids, olevel):
     for id, chunk in zip(recompress_ids, repository.get_many(recompress_ids, read_data=True)):
         old_size = len(chunk)
         stats["old_size"] += old_size
-        meta, data = repo_objs.parse(id, chunk)
+        meta, data = repo_objs.parse(id, chunk, ro_type=ROBJ_DONTCARE)
+        ro_type = meta.pop("type", None)
         compr_old = meta["ctype"], meta["clevel"], meta.get("olevel", -1)
         if olevel == -1:
             # if the chunk was obfuscated, but should not be in future, remove related metadata
             meta.pop("olevel", None)
             meta.pop("psize", None)
-        chunk = repo_objs.format(id, meta, data)
+        chunk = repo_objs.format(id, meta, data, ro_type=ro_type)
         compr_done = meta["ctype"], meta["clevel"], meta.get("olevel", -1)
         if compr_done != compr_old:
             # we actually changed something
diff --git a/src/borg/archiver/tar_cmds.py b/src/borg/archiver/tar_cmds.py
index b18cb24d0..0504f97e2 100644
--- a/src/borg/archiver/tar_cmds.py
+++ b/src/borg/archiver/tar_cmds.py
@@ -115,7 +115,9 @@ class TarMixIn:
             """
             Return a file-like object that reads from the chunks of *item*.
             """
-            chunk_iterator = archive.pipeline.fetch_many([chunk_id for chunk_id, _ in item.chunks], is_preloaded=True)
+            chunk_iterator = archive.pipeline.fetch_many(
+                [chunk_id for chunk_id, _ in item.chunks], is_preloaded=True, ro_type=ROBJ_FILE_STREAM
+            )
             if pi:
                 info = [remove_surrogates(item.path)]
                 return ChunkIteratorFileWrapper(
diff --git a/src/borg/archiver/transfer_cmd.py b/src/borg/archiver/transfer_cmd.py
index 49529a6cf..f820ef63f 100644
--- a/src/borg/archiver/transfer_cmd.py
+++ b/src/borg/archiver/transfer_cmd.py
@@ -111,7 +111,11 @@ class TransferMixIn:
                                         # keep compressed payload same, verify via assert_id (that will
                                         # decompress, but avoid needing to compress it again):
                                         meta, data = other_manifest.repo_objs.parse(
-                                            chunk_id, cdata, decompress=True, want_compressed=True
+                                            chunk_id,
+                                            cdata,
+                                            decompress=True,
+                                            want_compressed=True,
+                                            ro_type=ROBJ_FILE_STREAM,
                                         )
                                         meta, data = upgrader.upgrade_compressed_chunk(meta, data)
                                         chunk_entry = cache.add_chunk(
@@ -124,12 +128,20 @@ class TransferMixIn:
                                             size=size,
                                             ctype=meta["ctype"],
                                             clevel=meta["clevel"],
+                                            ro_type=ROBJ_FILE_STREAM,
                                         )
                                     elif args.recompress == "always":
                                         # always decompress and re-compress file data chunks
-                                        meta, data = other_manifest.repo_objs.parse(chunk_id, cdata)
+                                        meta, data = other_manifest.repo_objs.parse(
+                                            chunk_id, cdata, ro_type=ROBJ_FILE_STREAM
+                                        )
                                         chunk_entry = cache.add_chunk(
-                                            chunk_id, meta, data, stats=archive.stats, wait=False
+                                            chunk_id,
+                                            meta,
+                                            data,
+                                            stats=archive.stats,
+                                            wait=False,
+                                            ro_type=ROBJ_FILE_STREAM,
                                         )
                                     else:
                                         raise ValueError(f"unsupported recompress mode: {args.recompress}")
diff --git a/src/borg/cache.py b/src/borg/cache.py
index 4f0032e16..c18f315a2 100644
--- a/src/borg/cache.py
+++ b/src/borg/cache.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ logger = create_logger()
 
 files_cache_logger = create_logger("borg.debug.files_cache")
 
-from .constants import CACHE_README, FILES_CACHE_MODE_DISABLED
+from .constants import CACHE_README, FILES_CACHE_MODE_DISABLED, ROBJ_FILE_STREAM
 from .hashindex import ChunkIndex, ChunkIndexEntry, CacheSynchronizer
 from .helpers import Location
 from .helpers import Error
@@ -755,7 +755,7 @@ class LocalCache(CacheStatsMixin):
             nonlocal processed_item_metadata_chunks
             csize, data = decrypted_repository.get(archive_id)
             chunk_idx.add(archive_id, 1, len(data))
-            archive, _ = self.key.unpack_and_verify_archive(data)
+            archive = self.key.unpack_archive(data)
             archive = ArchiveItem(internal_dict=archive)
             if archive.version not in (1, 2):  # legacy
                 raise Exception("Unknown archive metadata version")
@@ -939,7 +939,21 @@ class LocalCache(CacheStatsMixin):
         self.cache_config.ignored_features.update(repo_features - my_features)
         self.cache_config.mandatory_features.update(repo_features & my_features)
 
-    def add_chunk(self, id, meta, data, *, stats, wait=True, compress=True, size=None, ctype=None, clevel=None):
+    def add_chunk(
+        self,
+        id,
+        meta,
+        data,
+        *,
+        stats,
+        wait=True,
+        compress=True,
+        size=None,
+        ctype=None,
+        clevel=None,
+        ro_type=ROBJ_FILE_STREAM,
+    ):
+        assert ro_type is not None
         if not self.txn_active:
             self.begin_txn()
         if size is None and compress:
@@ -949,7 +963,9 @@ class LocalCache(CacheStatsMixin):
             return self.chunk_incref(id, stats)
         if size is None:
             raise ValueError("when giving compressed data for a new chunk, the uncompressed size must be given also")
-        cdata = self.repo_objs.format(id, meta, data, compress=compress, size=size, ctype=ctype, clevel=clevel)
+        cdata = self.repo_objs.format(
+            id, meta, data, compress=compress, size=size, ctype=ctype, clevel=clevel, ro_type=ro_type
+        )
         self.repository.put(id, cdata, wait=wait)
         self.chunks.add(id, 1, size)
         stats.update(size, not refcount)
@@ -1113,7 +1129,8 @@ Chunk index:    {0.total_unique_chunks:20d}             unknown"""
     def memorize_file(self, hashed_path, path_hash, st, ids):
         pass
 
-    def add_chunk(self, id, meta, data, *, stats, wait=True, compress=True, size=None):
+    def add_chunk(self, id, meta, data, *, stats, wait=True, compress=True, size=None, ro_type=ROBJ_FILE_STREAM):
+        assert ro_type is not None
         if not self._txn_active:
             self.begin_txn()
         if size is None and compress:
@@ -1123,7 +1140,7 @@ Chunk index:    {0.total_unique_chunks:20d}             unknown"""
         refcount = self.seen_chunk(id, size)
         if refcount:
             return self.chunk_incref(id, stats, size=size)
-        cdata = self.repo_objs.format(id, meta, data, compress=compress)
+        cdata = self.repo_objs.format(id, meta, data, compress=compress, ro_type=ro_type)
         self.repository.put(id, cdata, wait=wait)
         self.chunks.add(id, 1, size)
         stats.update(size, not refcount)
diff --git a/src/borg/constants.py b/src/borg/constants.py
index 54528b61c..7f4cbc31d 100644
--- a/src/borg/constants.py
+++ b/src/borg/constants.py
@@ -33,6 +33,14 @@ UMASK_DEFAULT = 0o077
 # forcing to 0o100XXX later
 STDIN_MODE_DEFAULT = 0o660
 
+# RepoObj types
+ROBJ_MANIFEST = "M"  # Manifest (directory of archives, other metadata) object
+ROBJ_ARCHIVE_META = "A"  # main archive metadata object
+ROBJ_ARCHIVE_CHUNKIDS = "C"  # objects with a list of archive metadata stream chunkids
+ROBJ_ARCHIVE_STREAM = "S"  # archive metadata stream chunk (containing items)
+ROBJ_FILE_STREAM = "F"  # file content stream chunk (containing user data)
+ROBJ_DONTCARE = "*"  # used to parse without type assertion (= accept any type)
+
 # in borg < 1.3, this has been defined like this:
 # 20 MiB minus 41 bytes for a PUT header (because the "size" field in the Repository includes
 # the header, and the total size was set to precisely 20 MiB for borg < 1.3).
diff --git a/src/borg/crypto/key.py b/src/borg/crypto/key.py
index ef9f86efa..978007d1d 100644
--- a/src/borg/crypto/key.py
+++ b/src/borg/crypto/key.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ from ..helpers import bin_to_hex
 from ..helpers.passphrase import Passphrase, PasswordRetriesExceeded, PassphraseWrong
 from ..helpers import msgpack
 from ..helpers import workarounds
-from ..item import Key, EncryptedKey, want_bytes
+from ..item import Key, EncryptedKey
 from ..manifest import Manifest
 from ..platform import SaveFile
 from ..repoobj import RepoObj
@@ -63,48 +63,6 @@ class UnsupportedKeyFormatError(Error):
     """Your borg key is stored in an unsupported format. Try using a newer version of borg."""
 
 
-class TAMRequiredError(IntegrityError):
-    __doc__ = textwrap.dedent(
-        """
-    Manifest is unauthenticated, but it is required for this repository. Is somebody attacking you?
-    """
-    ).strip()
-    traceback = False
-
-
-class ArchiveTAMRequiredError(TAMRequiredError):
-    __doc__ = textwrap.dedent(
-        """
-    Archive '{}' is unauthenticated, but it is required for this repository.
-    """
-    ).strip()
-    traceback = False
-
-
-class TAMInvalid(IntegrityError):
-    __doc__ = IntegrityError.__doc__
-    traceback = False
-
-    def __init__(self):
-        # Error message becomes: "Data integrity error: Manifest authentication did not verify"
-        super().__init__("Manifest authentication did not verify")
-
-
-class ArchiveTAMInvalid(IntegrityError):
-    __doc__ = IntegrityError.__doc__
-    traceback = False
-
-    def __init__(self):
-        # Error message becomes: "Data integrity error: Archive authentication did not verify"
-        super().__init__("Archive authentication did not verify")
-
-
-class TAMUnsupportedSuiteError(IntegrityError):
-    """Could not verify manifest: Unsupported suite {!r}; a newer version is needed."""
-
-    traceback = False
-
-
 def key_creator(repository, args, *, other_key=None):
     for key in AVAILABLE_KEY_TYPES:
         if key.ARG_NAME == args.encryption:
@@ -224,25 +182,11 @@ class KeyBase:
             id_str = bin_to_hex(id) if id is not None else "(unknown)"
             raise IntegrityError(f"Chunk {id_str}: Invalid encryption envelope")
 
-    def _tam_key(self, salt, context):
-        return hkdf_hmac_sha512(
-            ikm=self.id_key + self.crypt_key,
-            salt=salt,
-            info=b"borg-metadata-authentication-" + context,
-            output_length=64,
-        )
-
-    def pack_and_authenticate_metadata(self, metadata_dict, context=b"manifest", salt=None):
-        if salt is None:
-            salt = os.urandom(64)
+    def pack_metadata(self, metadata_dict):
         metadata_dict = StableDict(metadata_dict)
-        tam = metadata_dict["tam"] = StableDict({"type": "HKDF_HMAC_SHA512", "hmac": bytes(64), "salt": salt})
-        packed = msgpack.packb(metadata_dict)
-        tam_key = self._tam_key(salt, context)
-        tam["hmac"] = hmac.digest(tam_key, packed, "sha512")
         return msgpack.packb(metadata_dict)
 
-    def unpack_and_verify_manifest(self, data):
+    def unpack_manifest(self, data):
         """Unpack msgpacked *data* and return manifest."""
         if data.startswith(b"\xc1" * 4):
             # This is a manifest from the future, we can't read it.
@@ -251,60 +195,17 @@ class KeyBase:
         unpacker = get_limited_unpacker("manifest")
         unpacker.feed(data)
         unpacked = unpacker.unpack()
-        if AUTHENTICATED_NO_KEY:
-            return unpacked
-        if "tam" not in unpacked:
-            raise TAMRequiredError(self.repository._location.canonical_path())
-        tam = unpacked.pop("tam", None)
-        if not isinstance(tam, dict):
-            raise TAMInvalid()
-        tam_type = tam.get("type", "<none>")
-        if tam_type != "HKDF_HMAC_SHA512":
-            raise TAMUnsupportedSuiteError(repr(tam_type))
-        tam_hmac = tam.get("hmac")
-        tam_salt = tam.get("salt")
-        if not isinstance(tam_salt, (bytes, str)) or not isinstance(tam_hmac, (bytes, str)):
-            raise TAMInvalid()
-        tam_hmac = want_bytes(tam_hmac)  # legacy
-        tam_salt = want_bytes(tam_salt)  # legacy
-        offset = data.index(tam_hmac)
-        data[offset : offset + 64] = bytes(64)
-        tam_key = self._tam_key(tam_salt, context=b"manifest")
-        calculated_hmac = hmac.digest(tam_key, data, "sha512")
-        if not hmac.compare_digest(calculated_hmac, tam_hmac):
-            raise TAMInvalid()
-        logger.debug("TAM-verified manifest")
+        unpacked.pop("tam", None)  # legacy
         return unpacked
 
-    def unpack_and_verify_archive(self, data):
-        """Unpack msgpacked *data* and return (object, salt)."""
+    def unpack_archive(self, data):
+        """Unpack msgpacked *data* and return archive metadata dict."""
         data = bytearray(data)
         unpacker = get_limited_unpacker("archive")
         unpacker.feed(data)
         unpacked = unpacker.unpack()
-        if "tam" not in unpacked:
-            archive_name = unpacked.get("name", "<unknown>")
-            raise ArchiveTAMRequiredError(archive_name)
-        tam = unpacked.pop("tam", None)
-        if not isinstance(tam, dict):
-            raise ArchiveTAMInvalid()
-        tam_type = tam.get("type", "<none>")
-        if tam_type != "HKDF_HMAC_SHA512":
-            raise TAMUnsupportedSuiteError(repr(tam_type))
-        tam_hmac = tam.get("hmac")
-        tam_salt = tam.get("salt")
-        if not isinstance(tam_salt, (bytes, str)) or not isinstance(tam_hmac, (bytes, str)):
-            raise ArchiveTAMInvalid()
-        tam_hmac = want_bytes(tam_hmac)  # legacy
-        tam_salt = want_bytes(tam_salt)  # legacy
-        offset = data.index(tam_hmac)
-        data[offset : offset + 64] = bytes(64)
-        tam_key = self._tam_key(tam_salt, context=b"archive")
-        calculated_hmac = hmac.digest(tam_key, data, "sha512")
-        if not hmac.compare_digest(calculated_hmac, tam_hmac):
-            raise ArchiveTAMInvalid()
-        logger.debug("TAM-verified archive")
-        return unpacked, tam_salt
+        unpacked.pop("tam", None)  # legacy
+        return unpacked
 
 
 class PlaintextKey(KeyBase):
@@ -335,9 +236,6 @@ class PlaintextKey(KeyBase):
         self.assert_type(data[0], id)
         return memoryview(data)[1:]
 
-    def _tam_key(self, salt, context):
-        return salt + context
-
 
 def random_blake2b_256_key():
     # This might look a bit curious, but is the same construction used in the keyed mode of BLAKE2b.
@@ -836,7 +734,6 @@ class AuthenticatedKeyBase(AESKeyBase, FlexiKey):
             self.enc_hmac_key = NOPE
             self.id_key = NOPE
             self.chunk_seed = 0
-            self.tam_required = False
             return True
         return super()._load(key_data, passphrase)
 
diff --git a/src/borg/fuse.py b/src/borg/fuse.py
index 376020d90..92f145874 100644
--- a/src/borg/fuse.py
+++ b/src/borg/fuse.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import time
 from collections import defaultdict
 from signal import SIGINT
 
+from .constants import ROBJ_FILE_STREAM
 from .fuse_impl import llfuse, has_pyfuse3
 
 
@@ -688,7 +689,7 @@ class FuseOperations(llfuse.Operations, FuseBackend):
                     # evict fully read chunk from cache
                     del self.data_cache[id]
             else:
-                _, data = self.repo_objs.parse(id, self.repository_uncached.get(id))
+                _, data = self.repo_objs.parse(id, self.repository_uncached.get(id), ro_type=ROBJ_FILE_STREAM)
                 if offset + n < len(data):
                     # chunk was only partially read, cache it
                     self.data_cache[id] = data
diff --git a/src/borg/helpers/misc.py b/src/borg/helpers/misc.py
index d844b7634..1f687a0bb 100644
--- a/src/borg/helpers/misc.py
+++ b/src/borg/helpers/misc.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ logger = create_logger()
 
 from . import msgpack
 from .. import __version__ as borg_version
+from ..constants import ROBJ_FILE_STREAM
 
 
 def sysinfo():
@@ -123,7 +124,7 @@ class ChunkIteratorFileWrapper:
 
 def open_item(archive, item):
     """Return file-like object for archived item (with chunks)."""
-    chunk_iterator = archive.pipeline.fetch_many([c.id for c in item.chunks])
+    chunk_iterator = archive.pipeline.fetch_many([c.id for c in item.chunks], ro_type=ROBJ_FILE_STREAM)
     return ChunkIteratorFileWrapper(chunk_iterator)
 
 
diff --git a/src/borg/helpers/parseformat.py b/src/borg/helpers/parseformat.py
index b4a455a04..4b0caf6cd 100644
--- a/src/borg/helpers/parseformat.py
+++ b/src/borg/helpers/parseformat.py
@@ -723,12 +723,11 @@ class ArchiveFormatter(BaseFormatter):
         "id": "internal ID of the archive",
         "hostname": "hostname of host on which this archive was created",
         "username": "username of user who created this archive",
-        "tam": "TAM authentication state of this archive",
         "size": "size of this archive (data plus metadata, not considering compression and deduplication)",
         "nfiles": "count of files in this archive",
     }
     KEY_GROUPS = (
-        ("archive", "name", "comment", "id", "tam"),
+        ("archive", "name", "comment", "id"),
         ("start", "time", "end", "command_line"),
         ("hostname", "username"),
         ("size", "nfiles"),
@@ -933,7 +932,7 @@ class ItemFormatter(BaseFormatter):
             hash = self.xxh64()
         elif hash_function in self.hash_algorithms:
             hash = hashlib.new(hash_function)
-        for data in self.archive.pipeline.fetch_many([c.id for c in item.chunks]):
+        for data in self.archive.pipeline.fetch_many([c.id for c in item.chunks], ro_type=ROBJ_FILE_STREAM):
             hash.update(data)
         return hash.hexdigest()
 
diff --git a/src/borg/manifest.py b/src/borg/manifest.py
index a9609884e..aa7e6143e 100644
--- a/src/borg/manifest.py
+++ b/src/borg/manifest.py
@@ -250,8 +250,8 @@ class Manifest:
         if not key:
             key = key_factory(repository, cdata, ro_cls=ro_cls)
         manifest = cls(key, repository, ro_cls=ro_cls)
-        _, data = manifest.repo_objs.parse(cls.MANIFEST_ID, cdata)
-        manifest_dict = key.unpack_and_verify_manifest(data)
+        _, data = manifest.repo_objs.parse(cls.MANIFEST_ID, cdata, ro_type=ROBJ_MANIFEST)
+        manifest_dict = key.unpack_manifest(data)
         m = ManifestItem(internal_dict=manifest_dict)
         manifest.id = manifest.repo_objs.id_hash(data)
         if m.get("version") not in (1, 2):
@@ -313,6 +313,6 @@ class Manifest:
             timestamp=self.timestamp,
             config=StableDict(self.config),
         )
-        data = self.key.pack_and_authenticate_metadata(manifest.as_dict())
+        data = self.key.pack_metadata(manifest.as_dict())
         self.id = self.repo_objs.id_hash(data)
-        self.repository.put(self.MANIFEST_ID, self.repo_objs.format(self.MANIFEST_ID, {}, data))
+        self.repository.put(self.MANIFEST_ID, self.repo_objs.format(self.MANIFEST_ID, {}, data, ro_type=ROBJ_MANIFEST))
diff --git a/src/borg/remote.py b/src/borg/remote.py
index 40b8b62ff..4a1551f05 100644
--- a/src/borg/remote.py
+++ b/src/borg/remote.py
@@ -1204,7 +1204,7 @@ def cache_if_remote(repository, *, decrypted_cache=False, pack=None, unpack=None
             return csize, decrypted
 
         def transform(id_, data):
-            meta, decrypted = repo_objs.parse(id_, data)
+            meta, decrypted = repo_objs.parse(id_, data, ro_type=ROBJ_DONTCARE)
             csize = meta.get("csize", len(data))
             return csize, decrypted
 
diff --git a/src/borg/repoobj.py b/src/borg/repoobj.py
index 557d4a604..3fb2534ad 100644
--- a/src/borg/repoobj.py
+++ b/src/borg/repoobj.py
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 from struct import Struct
 
+from .constants import *  # NOQA
 from .helpers import msgpack, workarounds
+from .helpers.errors import IntegrityError
 from .compress import Compressor, LZ4_COMPRESSOR, get_compressor
 
 # workaround for lost passphrase or key in "authenticated" or "authenticated-blake2" mode
@@ -35,7 +37,11 @@ class RepoObj:
         size: int = None,
         ctype: int = None,
         clevel: int = None,
+        ro_type: str = None,
     ) -> bytes:
+        assert isinstance(ro_type, str)
+        assert ro_type != ROBJ_DONTCARE
+        meta["type"] = ro_type
         assert isinstance(id, bytes)
         assert isinstance(meta, dict)
         assert isinstance(data, (bytes, memoryview))
@@ -58,11 +64,12 @@ class RepoObj:
         hdr = self.meta_len_hdr.pack(len(meta_encrypted))
         return hdr + meta_encrypted + data_encrypted
 
-    def parse_meta(self, id: bytes, cdata: bytes) -> dict:
+    def parse_meta(self, id: bytes, cdata: bytes, ro_type: str) -> dict:
         # when calling parse_meta, enough cdata needs to be supplied to contain completely the
         # meta_len_hdr and the encrypted, packed metadata. it is allowed to provide more cdata.
         assert isinstance(id, bytes)
         assert isinstance(cdata, bytes)
+        assert isinstance(ro_type, str)
         obj = memoryview(cdata)
         offs = self.meta_len_hdr.size
         hdr = obj[:offs]
@@ -71,10 +78,12 @@ class RepoObj:
         meta_encrypted = obj[offs : offs + len_meta_encrypted]
         meta_packed = self.key.decrypt(id, meta_encrypted)
         meta = msgpack.unpackb(meta_packed)
+        if ro_type != ROBJ_DONTCARE and meta["type"] != ro_type:
+            raise IntegrityError(f"ro_type expected: {ro_type} got: {meta['type']}")
         return meta
 
     def parse(
-        self, id: bytes, cdata: bytes, decompress: bool = True, want_compressed: bool = False
+        self, id: bytes, cdata: bytes, decompress: bool = True, want_compressed: bool = False, ro_type: str = None
     ) -> tuple[dict, bytes]:
         """
         Parse a repo object into metadata and data (decrypt it, maybe decompress, maybe verify if the chunk plaintext
@@ -86,6 +95,7 @@ class RepoObj:
         - decompress=False, want_compressed=True: quick, not verifying. returns compressed data (caller wants to reuse).
         - decompress=False, want_compressed=False: invalid
         """
+        assert isinstance(ro_type, str)
         assert not (not decompress and not want_compressed), "invalid parameter combination!"
         assert isinstance(id, bytes)
         assert isinstance(cdata, bytes)
@@ -98,6 +108,8 @@ class RepoObj:
         offs += len_meta_encrypted
         meta_packed = self.key.decrypt(id, meta_encrypted)
         meta_compressed = msgpack.unpackb(meta_packed)  # means: before adding more metadata in decompress block
+        if ro_type != ROBJ_DONTCARE and meta_compressed["type"] != ro_type:
+            raise IntegrityError(f"ro_type expected: {ro_type} got: {meta_compressed['type']}")
         data_encrypted = obj[offs:]
         data_compressed = self.key.decrypt(id, data_encrypted)  # does not include the type/level bytes
         if decompress:
@@ -142,10 +154,12 @@ class RepoObj1:  # legacy
         size: int = None,
         ctype: int = None,
         clevel: int = None,
+        ro_type: str = None,
     ) -> bytes:
         assert isinstance(id, bytes)
         assert meta == {}
         assert isinstance(data, (bytes, memoryview))
+        assert ro_type is not None
         assert compress or size is not None and ctype is not None and clevel is not None
         if compress:
             assert size is None or size == len(data)
@@ -160,11 +174,12 @@ class RepoObj1:  # legacy
         raise NotImplementedError("parse_meta is not available for RepoObj1")
 
     def parse(
-        self, id: bytes, cdata: bytes, decompress: bool = True, want_compressed: bool = False
+        self, id: bytes, cdata: bytes, decompress: bool = True, want_compressed: bool = False, ro_type: str = None
     ) -> tuple[dict, bytes]:
         assert not (not decompress and not want_compressed), "invalid parameter combination!"
         assert isinstance(id, bytes)
         assert isinstance(cdata, bytes)
+        assert ro_type is not None
         data_compressed = self.key.decrypt(id, cdata)
         compressor_cls, compression_level = Compressor.detect(data_compressed[:2])
         compressor = compressor_cls(level=compression_level, legacy_mode=True)
diff --git a/src/borg/testsuite/archive.py b/src/borg/testsuite/archive.py
index cefd6293b..361a82892 100644
--- a/src/borg/testsuite/archive.py
+++ b/src/borg/testsuite/archive.py
@@ -127,7 +127,8 @@ class MockCache:
         self.objects = {}
         self.repository = self.MockRepo()
 
-    def add_chunk(self, id, meta, data, stats=None, wait=True):
+    def add_chunk(self, id, meta, data, stats=None, wait=True, ro_type=None):
+        assert ro_type is not None
         self.objects[id] = data
         return id, len(data)
 
diff --git a/src/borg/testsuite/archiver/check_cmd.py b/src/borg/testsuite/archiver/check_cmd.py
index 5ddce3437..cf4c6baf2 100644
--- a/src/borg/testsuite/archiver/check_cmd.py
+++ b/src/borg/testsuite/archiver/check_cmd.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+from datetime import datetime, timezone, timedelta
 import shutil
 from unittest.mock import patch
 
@@ -5,7 +6,7 @@ import pytest
 
 from ...archive import ChunkBuffer
 from ...constants import *  # NOQA
-from ...helpers import bin_to_hex
+from ...helpers import bin_to_hex, msgpack
 from ...manifest import Manifest
 from ...repository import Repository
 from . import cmd, src_file, create_src_archive, open_archive, generate_archiver_tests, RK_ENCRYPTION
@@ -205,6 +206,40 @@ def test_corrupted_manifest(archivers, request):
     cmd(archiver, "check", exit_code=0)
 
 
+def test_spoofed_manifest(archivers, request):
+    archiver = request.getfixturevalue(archivers)
+    check_cmd_setup(archiver)
+    archive, repository = open_archive(archiver.repository_path, "archive1")
+    with repository:
+        manifest = Manifest.load(repository, Manifest.NO_OPERATION_CHECK)
+        cdata = manifest.repo_objs.format(
+            Manifest.MANIFEST_ID,
+            {},
+            msgpack.packb(
+                {
+                    "version": 1,
+                    "archives": {},
+                    "config": {},
+                    "timestamp": (datetime.now(tz=timezone.utc) + timedelta(days=1)).isoformat(timespec="microseconds"),
+                }
+            ),
+            # we assume that an attacker can put a file into backup src files that contains a fake manifest.
+            # but, the attacker can not influence the ro_type borg will use to store user file data:
+            ro_type=ROBJ_FILE_STREAM,  # a real manifest is stored with ROBJ_MANIFEST
+        )
+        # maybe a repo-side attacker could manage to move the fake manifest file chunk over to the manifest ID.
+        # we simulate this here by directly writing the fake manifest data to the manifest ID.
+        repository.put(Manifest.MANIFEST_ID, cdata)
+        repository.commit(compact=False)
+    # borg should notice that the manifest has the wrong ro_type.
+    cmd(archiver, "check", exit_code=1)
+    # borg check --repair should remove the corrupted manifest and rebuild a new one.
+    output = cmd(archiver, "check", "-v", "--repair", exit_code=0)
+    assert "archive1" in output
+    assert "archive2" in output
+    cmd(archiver, "check", exit_code=0)
+
+
 def test_manifest_rebuild_corrupted_chunk(archivers, request):
     archiver = request.getfixturevalue(archivers)
     check_cmd_setup(archiver)
@@ -241,9 +276,9 @@ def test_manifest_rebuild_duplicate_archive(archivers, request):
             "time": "2016-12-15T18:49:51.849711",
             "version": 2,
         }
-        archive = repo_objs.key.pack_and_authenticate_metadata(archive_dict, context=b"archive")
+        archive = repo_objs.key.pack_metadata(archive_dict)
         archive_id = repo_objs.id_hash(archive)
-        repository.put(archive_id, repo_objs.format(archive_id, {}, archive))
+        repository.put(archive_id, repo_objs.format(archive_id, {}, archive, ro_type=ROBJ_ARCHIVE_META))
         repository.commit(compact=False)
     cmd(archiver, "check", exit_code=1)
     cmd(archiver, "check", "--repair", exit_code=0)
@@ -253,6 +288,47 @@ def test_manifest_rebuild_duplicate_archive(archivers, request):
     assert "archive2" in output
 
 
+def test_spoofed_archive(archivers, request):
+    archiver = request.getfixturevalue(archivers)
+    check_cmd_setup(archiver)
+    archive, repository = open_archive(archiver.repository_path, "archive1")
+    repo_objs = archive.repo_objs
+    with repository:
+        # attacker would corrupt or delete the manifest to trigger a rebuild of it:
+        manifest = repository.get(Manifest.MANIFEST_ID)
+        corrupted_manifest = manifest + b"corrupted!"
+        repository.put(Manifest.MANIFEST_ID, corrupted_manifest)
+        archive_dict = {
+            "command_line": "",
+            "item_ptrs": [],
+            "hostname": "foo",
+            "username": "bar",
+            "name": "archive_spoofed",
+            "time": "2016-12-15T18:49:51.849711",
+            "version": 2,
+        }
+        archive = repo_objs.key.pack_metadata(archive_dict)
+        archive_id = repo_objs.id_hash(archive)
+        repository.put(
+            archive_id,
+            repo_objs.format(
+                archive_id,
+                {},
+                archive,
+                # we assume that an attacker can put a file into backup src files that contains a fake archive.
+                # but, the attacker can not influence the ro_type borg will use to store user file data:
+                ro_type=ROBJ_FILE_STREAM,  # a real archive is stored with ROBJ_ARCHIVE_META
+            ),
+        )
+        repository.commit(compact=False)
+    cmd(archiver, "check", exit_code=1)
+    cmd(archiver, "check", "--repair", "--debug", exit_code=0)
+    output = cmd(archiver, "rlist")
+    assert "archive1" in output
+    assert "archive2" in output
+    assert "archive_spoofed" not in output
+
+
 def test_extra_chunks(archivers, request):
     archiver = request.getfixturevalue(archivers)
     if archiver.get_kind() == "remote":
diff --git a/src/borg/testsuite/archiver/checks.py b/src/borg/testsuite/archiver/checks.py
index f6311c8e3..0fbf73439 100644
--- a/src/borg/testsuite/archiver/checks.py
+++ b/src/borg/testsuite/archiver/checks.py
@@ -1,22 +1,19 @@
 import os
 import shutil
-from datetime import datetime, timezone, timedelta
 from unittest.mock import patch
 
 import pytest
 
 from ...cache import Cache, LocalCache
 from ...constants import *  # NOQA
-from ...crypto.key import TAMRequiredError
-from ...helpers import Location, get_security_dir, bin_to_hex, archive_ts_now
+from ...helpers import Location, get_security_dir, bin_to_hex
 from ...helpers import EXIT_ERROR
-from ...helpers import msgpack
 from ...manifest import Manifest, MandatoryFeatureUnsupported
 from ...remote import RemoteRepository, PathNotAllowed
 from ...repository import Repository
 from .. import llfuse
 from .. import changedir
-from . import cmd, _extract_repository_id, open_repository, check_cache, create_test_files, create_src_archive
+from . import cmd, _extract_repository_id, open_repository, check_cache, create_test_files
 from . import _set_repository_id, create_regular_file, assert_creates_file, generate_archiver_tests, RK_ENCRYPTION
 
 pytest_generate_tests = lambda metafunc: generate_archiver_tests(metafunc, kinds="local,remote")  # NOQA
@@ -322,117 +319,6 @@ def test_check_cache(archivers, request):
         check_cache(archiver)
 
 
-#  Begin manifest TAM tests
-def spoof_manifest(repository):
-    with repository:
-        manifest = Manifest.load(repository, Manifest.NO_OPERATION_CHECK)
-        cdata = manifest.repo_objs.format(
-            Manifest.MANIFEST_ID,
-            {},
-            msgpack.packb(
-                {
-                    "version": 1,
-                    "archives": {},
-                    "config": {},
-                    "timestamp": (datetime.now(tz=timezone.utc) + timedelta(days=1)).isoformat(timespec="microseconds"),
-                }
-            ),
-        )
-        repository.put(Manifest.MANIFEST_ID, cdata)
-        repository.commit(compact=False)
-
-
-def test_fresh_init_tam_required(archiver):
-    cmd(archiver, "rcreate", RK_ENCRYPTION)
-    repository = Repository(archiver.repository_path, exclusive=True)
-    with repository:
-        manifest = Manifest.load(repository, Manifest.NO_OPERATION_CHECK)
-        cdata = manifest.repo_objs.format(
-            Manifest.MANIFEST_ID,
-            {},
-            msgpack.packb(
-                {
-                    "version": 1,
-                    "archives": {},
-                    "timestamp": (datetime.now(tz=timezone.utc) + timedelta(days=1)).isoformat(timespec="microseconds"),
-                }
-            ),
-        )
-        repository.put(Manifest.MANIFEST_ID, cdata)
-        repository.commit(compact=False)
-
-    with pytest.raises(TAMRequiredError):
-        cmd(archiver, "rlist")
-
-
-def test_not_required(archiver):
-    cmd(archiver, "rcreate", RK_ENCRYPTION)
-    create_src_archive(archiver, "archive1234")
-    repository = Repository(archiver.repository_path, exclusive=True)
-    # Manifest must be authenticated now
-    output = cmd(archiver, "rlist", "--debug")
-    assert "archive1234" in output
-    assert "TAM-verified manifest" in output
-    # Try to spoof / modify pre-1.0.9
-    spoof_manifest(repository)
-    # Fails
-    with pytest.raises(TAMRequiredError):
-        cmd(archiver, "rlist")
-
-
-#  Begin archive TAM tests
-def write_archive_without_tam(repository, archive_name):
-    manifest = Manifest.load(repository, Manifest.NO_OPERATION_CHECK)
-    archive_data = msgpack.packb(
-        {
-            "version": 2,
-            "name": archive_name,
-            "item_ptrs": [],
-            "command_line": "",
-            "hostname": "",
-            "username": "",
-            "time": archive_ts_now().isoformat(timespec="microseconds"),
-            "size": 0,
-            "nfiles": 0,
-        }
-    )
-    archive_id = manifest.repo_objs.id_hash(archive_data)
-    cdata = manifest.repo_objs.format(archive_id, {}, archive_data)
-    repository.put(archive_id, cdata)
-    manifest.archives[archive_name] = (archive_id, datetime.now())
-    manifest.write()
-    repository.commit(compact=False)
-
-
-def test_check_rebuild_manifest(archiver):
-    cmd(archiver, "rcreate", RK_ENCRYPTION)
-    create_src_archive(archiver, "archive_tam")
-    repository = Repository(archiver.repository_path, exclusive=True)
-    with repository:
-        write_archive_without_tam(repository, "archive_no_tam")
-        repository.delete(Manifest.MANIFEST_ID)  # kill manifest, so check has to rebuild it
-        repository.commit(compact=False)
-    cmd(archiver, "check", "--repair")
-    output = cmd(archiver, "rlist", "--format='{name}{NL}'")
-    assert "archive_tam" in output  # TAM-verified archive is in rebuilt manifest
-    assert "archive_no_tam" not in output  # check got rid of untrusted not TAM-verified archive
-
-
-def test_check_rebuild_refcounts(archiver):
-    cmd(archiver, "rcreate", RK_ENCRYPTION)
-    create_src_archive(archiver, "archive_tam")
-    archive_id_pre_check = cmd(archiver, "rlist", "--format='{name} {id}{NL}'")
-    repository = Repository(archiver.repository_path, exclusive=True)
-    with repository:
-        write_archive_without_tam(repository, "archive_no_tam")
-    cmd(archiver, "check", "--repair")
-    output = cmd(archiver, "rlist", "--format='{name}{NL}'")
-    assert "archive_tam" in output  # TAM-verified archive still there
-    assert "archive_no_tam" not in output  # check got rid of untrusted not TAM-verified archive
-    archive_id_post_check = cmd(archiver, "rlist", "--format='{name} {id}{NL}'")
-    assert archive_id_post_check == archive_id_pre_check  # rebuild_refcounts didn't change archive_tam archive id
-
-
 # Begin Remote Tests
 def test_remote_repo_restrict_to_path(remote_archiver):
     original_location, repo_path = remote_archiver.repository_location, remote_archiver.repository_path
diff --git a/src/borg/testsuite/archiver/rcompress_cmd.py b/src/borg/testsuite/archiver/rcompress_cmd.py
index 3fa8a34bf..dbae44837 100644
--- a/src/borg/testsuite/archiver/rcompress_cmd.py
+++ b/src/borg/testsuite/archiver/rcompress_cmd.py
@@ -22,7 +22,9 @@ def test_rcompress(archiver):
                     break
                 for id in ids:
                     chunk = repository.get(id, read_data=True)
-                    meta, data = manifest.repo_objs.parse(id, chunk)  # will also decompress according to metadata
+                    meta, data = manifest.repo_objs.parse(
+                        id, chunk, ro_type=ROBJ_DONTCARE
+                    )  # will also decompress according to metadata
                     m_olevel = meta.get("olevel", -1)
                     m_psize = meta.get("psize", -1)
                     print(
diff --git a/src/borg/testsuite/key.py b/src/borg/testsuite/key.py
index 749c792e4..7f4f8dce6 100644
--- a/src/borg/testsuite/key.py
+++ b/src/borg/testsuite/key.py
@@ -11,13 +11,11 @@ from ..crypto.key import AEADKeyBase
 from ..crypto.key import AESOCBRepoKey, AESOCBKeyfileKey, CHPORepoKey, CHPOKeyfileKey
 from ..crypto.key import Blake2AESOCBRepoKey, Blake2AESOCBKeyfileKey, Blake2CHPORepoKey, Blake2CHPOKeyfileKey
 from ..crypto.key import ID_HMAC_SHA_256, ID_BLAKE2b_256
-from ..crypto.key import TAMRequiredError, TAMInvalid, TAMUnsupportedSuiteError, ArchiveTAMInvalid
 from ..crypto.key import UnsupportedManifestError, UnsupportedKeyFormatError
 from ..crypto.key import identify_key
 from ..crypto.low_level import IntegrityError as IntegrityErrorBase
 from ..helpers import IntegrityError
 from ..helpers import Location
-from ..helpers import StableDict
 from ..helpers import msgpack
 from ..constants import KEY_ALGORITHMS
 
@@ -266,125 +264,25 @@ class TestTAM:
     def test_unpack_future(self, key):
         blob = b"\xc1\xc1\xc1\xc1foobar"
         with pytest.raises(UnsupportedManifestError):
-            key.unpack_and_verify_manifest(blob)
+            key.unpack_manifest(blob)
 
         blob = b"\xc1\xc1\xc1"
         with pytest.raises(msgpack.UnpackException):
-            key.unpack_and_verify_manifest(blob)
-
-    def test_missing(self, key):
-        blob = msgpack.packb({})
-        with pytest.raises(TAMRequiredError):
-            key.unpack_and_verify_manifest(blob)
-        with pytest.raises(TAMRequiredError):
-            key.unpack_and_verify_archive(blob)
-
-    def test_unknown_type(self, key):
-        blob = msgpack.packb({"tam": {"type": "HMAC_VOLLBIT"}})
-        with pytest.raises(TAMUnsupportedSuiteError):
-            key.unpack_and_verify_manifest(blob)
-        with pytest.raises(TAMUnsupportedSuiteError):
-            key.unpack_and_verify_archive(blob)
-
-    @pytest.mark.parametrize(
-        "tam, exc",
-        (
-            ({}, TAMUnsupportedSuiteError),
-            ({"type": b"\xff"}, TAMUnsupportedSuiteError),
-            (None, TAMInvalid),
-            (1234, TAMInvalid),
-        ),
-    )
-    def test_invalid_manifest(self, key, tam, exc):
-        blob = msgpack.packb({"tam": tam})
-        with pytest.raises(exc):
-            key.unpack_and_verify_manifest(blob)
-
-    @pytest.mark.parametrize(
-        "tam, exc",
-        (
-            ({}, TAMUnsupportedSuiteError),
-            ({"type": b"\xff"}, TAMUnsupportedSuiteError),
-            (None, ArchiveTAMInvalid),
-            (1234, ArchiveTAMInvalid),
-        ),
-    )
-    def test_invalid_archive(self, key, tam, exc):
-        blob = msgpack.packb({"tam": tam})
-        with pytest.raises(exc):
-            key.unpack_and_verify_archive(blob)
-
-    @pytest.mark.parametrize(
-        "hmac, salt",
-        (({}, bytes(64)), (bytes(64), {}), (None, bytes(64)), (bytes(64), None)),
-        ids=["ed-b64", "b64-ed", "n-b64", "b64-n"],
-    )
-    def test_wrong_types(self, key, hmac, salt):
-        data = {"tam": {"type": "HKDF_HMAC_SHA512", "hmac": hmac, "salt": salt}}
-        tam = data["tam"]
-        if hmac is None:
-            del tam["hmac"]
-        if salt is None:
-            del tam["salt"]
-        blob = msgpack.packb(data)
-        with pytest.raises(TAMInvalid):
-            key.unpack_and_verify_manifest(blob)
-        with pytest.raises(ArchiveTAMInvalid):
-            key.unpack_and_verify_archive(blob)
+            key.unpack_manifest(blob)
 
     def test_round_trip_manifest(self, key):
         data = {"foo": "bar"}
-        blob = key.pack_and_authenticate_metadata(data, context=b"manifest")
-        assert blob.startswith(b"\x82")
-
-        unpacked = msgpack.unpackb(blob)
-        assert unpacked["tam"]["type"] == "HKDF_HMAC_SHA512"
-
-        unpacked = key.unpack_and_verify_manifest(blob)
+        blob = key.pack_metadata(data)
+        unpacked = key.unpack_manifest(blob)
         assert unpacked["foo"] == "bar"
-        assert "tam" not in unpacked
+        assert "tam" not in unpacked  # legacy
 
     def test_round_trip_archive(self, key):
         data = {"foo": "bar"}
-        blob = key.pack_and_authenticate_metadata(data, context=b"archive")
-        assert blob.startswith(b"\x82")
-
-        unpacked = msgpack.unpackb(blob)
-        assert unpacked["tam"]["type"] == "HKDF_HMAC_SHA512"
-
-        unpacked, _ = key.unpack_and_verify_archive(blob)
+        blob = key.pack_metadata(data)
+        unpacked = key.unpack_archive(blob)
         assert unpacked["foo"] == "bar"
-        assert "tam" not in unpacked
-
-    @pytest.mark.parametrize("which", ("hmac", "salt"))
-    def test_tampered_manifest(self, key, which):
-        data = {"foo": "bar"}
-        blob = key.pack_and_authenticate_metadata(data, context=b"manifest")
-        assert blob.startswith(b"\x82")
-
-        unpacked = msgpack.unpackb(blob, object_hook=StableDict)
-        assert len(unpacked["tam"][which]) == 64
-        unpacked["tam"][which] = unpacked["tam"][which][0:32] + bytes(32)
-        assert len(unpacked["tam"][which]) == 64
-        blob = msgpack.packb(unpacked)
-
-        with pytest.raises(TAMInvalid):
-            key.unpack_and_verify_manifest(blob)
-
-    @pytest.mark.parametrize("which", ("hmac", "salt"))
-    def test_tampered_archive(self, key, which):
-        data = {"foo": "bar"}
-        blob = key.pack_and_authenticate_metadata(data, context=b"archive")
-        assert blob.startswith(b"\x82")
-
-        unpacked = msgpack.unpackb(blob, object_hook=StableDict)
-        assert len(unpacked["tam"][which]) == 64
-        unpacked["tam"][which] = unpacked["tam"][which][0:32] + bytes(32)
-        assert len(unpacked["tam"][which]) == 64
-        blob = msgpack.packb(unpacked)
-
-        with pytest.raises(ArchiveTAMInvalid):
-            key.unpack_and_verify_archive(blob)
+        assert "tam" not in unpacked  # legacy
 
 
 def test_decrypt_key_file_unsupported_algorithm():
diff --git a/src/borg/testsuite/remote.py b/src/borg/testsuite/remote.py
index b5cb2e642..a2d84bcee 100644
--- a/src/borg/testsuite/remote.py
+++ b/src/borg/testsuite/remote.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ from unittest.mock import patch
 
 import pytest
 
+from ..constants import ROBJ_FILE_STREAM
 from ..remote import SleepingBandwidthLimiter, RepositoryCache, cache_if_remote
 from ..repository import Repository
 from ..crypto.key import PlaintextKey
@@ -205,7 +206,7 @@ class TestRepositoryCache:
 
     def _put_encrypted_object(self, repo_objs, repository, data):
         id_ = repo_objs.id_hash(data)
-        repository.put(id_, repo_objs.format(id_, {}, data))
+        repository.put(id_, repo_objs.format(id_, {}, data, ro_type=ROBJ_FILE_STREAM))
         return id_
 
     @pytest.fixture
diff --git a/src/borg/testsuite/repoobj.py b/src/borg/testsuite/repoobj.py
index 5d11ad931..44c364d81 100644
--- a/src/borg/testsuite/repoobj.py
+++ b/src/borg/testsuite/repoobj.py
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 import pytest
 
+from ..constants import ROBJ_FILE_STREAM, ROBJ_MANIFEST, ROBJ_ARCHIVE_META
 from ..crypto.key import PlaintextKey
+from ..helpers.errors import IntegrityError
 from ..repository import Repository
 from ..repoobj import RepoObj, RepoObj1
 from ..compress import LZ4
@@ -21,14 +23,14 @@ def test_format_parse_roundtrip(key):
     data = b"foobar" * 10
     id = repo_objs.id_hash(data)
     meta = {"custom": "something"}  # size and csize are computed automatically
-    cdata = repo_objs.format(id, meta, data)
+    cdata = repo_objs.format(id, meta, data, ro_type=ROBJ_FILE_STREAM)
 
-    got_meta = repo_objs.parse_meta(id, cdata)
+    got_meta = repo_objs.parse_meta(id, cdata, ro_type=ROBJ_FILE_STREAM)
     assert got_meta["size"] == len(data)
     assert got_meta["csize"] < len(data)
     assert got_meta["custom"] == "something"
 
-    got_meta, got_data = repo_objs.parse(id, cdata)
+    got_meta, got_data = repo_objs.parse(id, cdata, ro_type=ROBJ_FILE_STREAM)
     assert got_meta["size"] == len(data)
     assert got_meta["csize"] < len(data)
     assert got_meta["custom"] == "something"
@@ -44,11 +46,11 @@ def test_format_parse_roundtrip_borg1(key):  # legacy
     data = b"foobar" * 10
     id = repo_objs.id_hash(data)
     meta = {}  # borg1 does not support this kind of metadata
-    cdata = repo_objs.format(id, meta, data)
+    cdata = repo_objs.format(id, meta, data, ro_type=ROBJ_FILE_STREAM)
 
     # borg1 does not support separate metadata and borg2 does not invoke parse_meta for borg1 repos
 
-    got_meta, got_data = repo_objs.parse(id, cdata)
+    got_meta, got_data = repo_objs.parse(id, cdata, ro_type=ROBJ_FILE_STREAM)
     assert got_meta["size"] == len(data)
     assert got_meta["csize"] < len(data)
     assert data == got_data
@@ -67,9 +69,9 @@ def test_borg1_borg2_transition(key):
     len_data = len(data)
     repo_objs1 = RepoObj1(key)
     id = repo_objs1.id_hash(data)
-    borg1_cdata = repo_objs1.format(id, meta, data)
+    borg1_cdata = repo_objs1.format(id, meta, data, ro_type=ROBJ_FILE_STREAM)
     meta1, compr_data1 = repo_objs1.parse(
-        id, borg1_cdata, decompress=True, want_compressed=True
+        id, borg1_cdata, decompress=True, want_compressed=True, ro_type=ROBJ_FILE_STREAM
     )  # avoid re-compression
     # in borg 1, we can only get this metadata after decrypting the whole chunk (and we do not have "size" here):
     assert meta1["ctype"] == LZ4.ID  # default compression
@@ -80,18 +82,49 @@ def test_borg1_borg2_transition(key):
     # note: as we did not decompress, we do not have "size" and we need to get it from somewhere else.
     # here, we just use len_data. for borg transfer, we also know the size from another metadata source.
     borg2_cdata = repo_objs2.format(
-        id, dict(meta1), compr_data1[2:], compress=False, size=len_data, ctype=meta1["ctype"], clevel=meta1["clevel"]
+        id,
+        dict(meta1),
+        compr_data1[2:],
+        compress=False,
+        size=len_data,
+        ctype=meta1["ctype"],
+        clevel=meta1["clevel"],
+        ro_type=ROBJ_FILE_STREAM,
     )
-    meta2, data2 = repo_objs2.parse(id, borg2_cdata)
+    meta2, data2 = repo_objs2.parse(id, borg2_cdata, ro_type=ROBJ_FILE_STREAM)
     assert data2 == data
     assert meta2["ctype"] == LZ4.ID
     assert meta2["clevel"] == 0xFF
     assert meta2["csize"] == meta1["csize"] - 2  # borg2 does not store the type/level bytes there
     assert meta2["size"] == len_data
 
-    meta2 = repo_objs2.parse_meta(id, borg2_cdata)
+    meta2 = repo_objs2.parse_meta(id, borg2_cdata, ro_type=ROBJ_FILE_STREAM)
     # now, in borg 2, we have nice and separately decrypted metadata (no need to decrypt the whole chunk):
     assert meta2["ctype"] == LZ4.ID
     assert meta2["clevel"] == 0xFF
     assert meta2["csize"] == meta1["csize"] - 2  # borg2 does not store the type/level bytes there
     assert meta2["size"] == len_data
+
+
+def test_spoof_manifest(key):
+    repo_objs = RepoObj(key)
+    data = b"fake or malicious manifest data"  # file content could be provided by attacker.
+    id = repo_objs.id_hash(data)
+    # create a repo object containing user data (file content data).
+    cdata = repo_objs.format(id, {}, data, ro_type=ROBJ_FILE_STREAM)
+    # let's assume an attacker somehow managed to replace the manifest with that repo object.
+    # as borg always give the ro_type it wants to read, this should fail:
+    with pytest.raises(IntegrityError):
+        repo_objs.parse(id, cdata, ro_type=ROBJ_MANIFEST)
+
+
+def test_spoof_archive(key):
+    repo_objs = RepoObj(key)
+    data = b"fake or malicious archive data"  # file content could be provided by attacker.
+    id = repo_objs.id_hash(data)
+    # create a repo object containing user data (file content data).
+    cdata = repo_objs.format(id, {}, data, ro_type=ROBJ_FILE_STREAM)
+    # let's assume an attacker somehow managed to replace an archive with that repo object.
+    # as borg always give the ro_type it wants to read, this should fail:
+    with pytest.raises(IntegrityError):
+        repo_objs.parse(id, cdata, ro_type=ROBJ_ARCHIVE_META)