diff --git a/src/index/ast.rs b/src/index/ast.rs
index 04ed45f..fd1d486 100644
--- a/src/index/ast.rs
+++ b/src/index/ast.rs
@@ -417,13 +417,20 @@ fn extract_rust(
                                         let name = node_name(&gc, source);
                                         if !name.is_empty() {
                                             nodes.push(AstNode {
-                                                name,
+                                                name: name.clone(),
                                                 kind: SymbolKind::Function,
                                                 file: file_path.to_string(),
                                                 line: (gc.start_position().row + 1) as u32,
                                                 signature: signature_for_node(&gc, source),
                                                 parent: Some(type_n.clone()),
                                             });
+                                            // Walk impl-method bodies for call
+                                            // edges too — without this,
+                                            // cross-crate callers of these
+                                            // methods are invisible (#519).
+                                            extract_calls_from_node(
+                                                &gc, source, file_path, &name, &mut edges,
+                                            );
                                         }
                                     }
                                     if !dc.goto_next_sibling() {
@@ -455,6 +462,16 @@ fn extract_rust(
     (nodes, edges)
 }
 
+/// Reduce a call target to its final name segment so it joins against symbol
+/// names: method calls (`self.export_full`, `manager.remember()`) and
+/// qualified paths (`std::mem::drop`) all become their bare final name (#519).
+fn normalize_callee_name(raw: &str) -> &str {
+    raw.rsplit(['.', ':'])
+        .next()
+        .filter(|s| !s.is_empty())
+        .unwrap_or(raw)
+}
+
 /// Walk function body for call expressions using cursor-based DFS.
 fn extract_calls_from_node(
     node: &tree_sitter::Node,
@@ -472,12 +489,13 @@ fn extract_calls_from_node(
     ) {
         if node.kind() == "call_expression" {
             if let Some(fn_node) = node.child_by_field_name("function") {
-                let callee = node_text(&fn_node, source);
+                let raw = node_text(&fn_node, source);
+                let callee = normalize_callee_name(&raw);
                 if !callee.is_empty() {
                     edges.push(AstEdge {
                         source: caller.to_string(),
                         kind: EdgeKind::Calls,
-                        target: callee,
+                        target: callee.to_string(),
                         file: file_path.to_string(),
                         line: (node.start_position().row + 1) as u32,
                     });
@@ -2644,6 +2662,55 @@ export const processForm = (data: string) => {
         );
     }
 
+    /// Regression (#519): method calls (`self.export_full()`,
+    /// `manager.remember_with_contradiction()`) and qualified paths
+    /// (`std::mem::drop(...)`) must record the FINAL name segment as the
+    /// call target, so the edge joins against symbol names across files and
+    /// crates. Previously the raw text (`self.export_full`) was stored and
+    /// dead-code mis-flagged these symbols as uncalled.
+    #[test]
+    fn test_method_call_target_records_bare_name() {
+        let code = r#"
+pub struct StructuralExporter;
+
+impl StructuralExporter {
+    pub fn export_full(&self) -> String { String::new() }
+}
+
+struct Manager;
+
+impl Manager {
+    pub fn maintenance(&self, x: &StructuralExporter) {
+        let out = x.export_full();
+        std::mem::drop(out);
+    }
+}
+"#;
+        let (nodes, edges) = extract(code, "rs", "maintenance.rs");
+        assert!(nodes.iter().any(|n| n.name == "export_full"));
+
+        // Method-call edge lands on the bare method name…
+        assert!(
+            edges.iter().any(|e| e.source == "maintenance"
+                && e.target == "export_full"
+                && e.kind == EdgeKind::Calls),
+            "expected Calls edge to bare name 'export_full', got: {:?}",
+            edges
+                .iter()
+                .filter(|e| e.kind == EdgeKind::Calls)
+                .map(|e| &e.target)
+                .collect::<Vec<_>>()
+        );
+
+        // …and qualified paths resolve to their final segment too.
+        assert!(
+            edges
+                .iter()
+                .any(|e| e.source == "maintenance" && e.target == "drop"),
+            "expected Calls edge to 'drop' from std::mem::drop"
+        );
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn test_extract_svelte_line_numbers() {
         let code = r#"<script lang="ts">
diff --git a/src/index/graph.rs b/src/index/graph.rs
index baa33a3..b065fbe 100644
--- a/src/index/graph.rs
+++ b/src/index/graph.rs
@@ -603,6 +603,10 @@ pub struct DeadCodeOptions {
     /// Each entry is a SQL LIKE pattern (e.g. `%Handler`, `%Listener`, `%Route`).
     /// These are checked against symbol names in addition to WELL_KNOWN_NAMES.
     pub entry_point_patterns: Vec<String>,
+    /// Include public API surface (`pub`/`export` items) in dead code results.
+    /// By default these are skipped: their purpose is external consumption,
+    /// so absence of internal callers does not make them dead (#520).
+    pub include_pub_api: bool,
 }
 
 /// Well-known symbol names that should not be flagged as dead code even when
@@ -798,6 +802,19 @@ pub fn find_dead_code(
         sql.push_str(" AND s.name NOT LIKE 'test_%' AND s.name NOT LIKE '%_test'");
     }
 
+    // Exclude public API surface unless explicitly requested (#520): `pub`
+    // (Rust, incl. `pub(crate)`) and `export` (TS/JS) items are consumed
+    // externally, so missing internal callers does not make them dead.
+    if !opts.include_pub_api {
+        sql.push_str(
+            " AND (s.signature IS NULL OR (
+                   s.signature NOT LIKE 'pub %'
+                   AND s.signature NOT LIKE 'pub(%'
+                   AND s.signature NOT LIKE 'export %'
+               ))",
+        );
+    }
+
     // Exclude symbols with `// cora: keep` suppression marker in their signature.
     sql.push_str(" AND (s.signature IS NULL OR s.signature NOT LIKE '%cora: keep%')");
 
@@ -1339,8 +1356,7 @@ mod tests {
             pid,
             &DeadCodeOptions {
                 include_tests: true,
-                min_lines: None,
-                entry_point_patterns: vec![],
+                ..Default::default()
             },
         )
         .unwrap();
@@ -1355,4 +1371,100 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(orphan.line, 20);
         assert_eq!(orphan.reason, "no callers found");
     }
+
+    /// Regression (#519): a symbol defined in one crate/file and called via
+    /// method syntax (`obj.remember_with_contradiction()`) from another
+    /// crate's file must NOT be flagged dead. Mirrors the real uteke
+    /// workspace case: definition in uteke-core, caller in uteke-cli.
+    #[test]
+    fn test_dead_code_resolves_cross_file_method_calls() {
+        use super::super::index_file;
+
+        let conn = mem_conn();
+        let pid = test_project(&conn);
+
+        // "uteke-core": the definition.
+        index_file(
+            &conn,
+            pid,
+            "crates/core/src/consolidate.rs",
+            r#"
+pub fn remember_with_contradiction(content: &str) -> usize { content.len() }
+"#,
+            "rs",
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+
+        // "uteke-cli": a cross-crate caller using method syntax.
+        index_file(
+            &conn,
+            pid,
+            "crates/cli/src/commands/maintenance.rs",
+            r#"
+pub fn maintenance() -> usize {
+    let store = Store;
+    store.remember_with_contradiction("note")
+}
+"#,
+            "rs",
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+
+        let dead = find_dead_code(&conn, pid, &DeadCodeOptions::default()).unwrap();
+        assert!(
+            !dead.iter().any(|d| d.name == "remember_with_contradiction"),
+            "cross-crate method call must prevent false-positive dead code, got: {:?}",
+            dead.iter().map(|d| &d.name).collect::<Vec<_>>()
+        );
+    }
+
+    /// Regression (#520): public API surface is skipped by default — missing
+    /// internal callers does not make a `pub` item dead — and can be opted
+    /// back in with `include_pub_api`. Private helpers still get flagged.
+    #[test]
+    fn test_dead_code_skips_pub_api_by_default() {
+        use super::super::index_file;
+
+        let conn = mem_conn();
+        let pid = test_project(&conn);
+
+        index_file(
+            &conn,
+            pid,
+            "src/lib.rs",
+            r#"
+pub async fn chunk_markdown_embed_aware(text: &str) -> usize { text.len() }
+
+fn internal_only_helper() -> u8 { 7 }
+"#,
+            "rs",
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+
+        // Default: pub items are treated as API surface and skipped.
+        let dead = find_dead_code(&conn, pid, &DeadCodeOptions::default()).unwrap();
+        let names: Vec<&str> = dead.iter().map(|d| d.name.as_str()).collect();
+        assert!(
+            !names.contains(&"chunk_markdown_embed_aware"),
+            "pub fn must be skipped by default"
+        );
+        assert!(
+            names.contains(&"internal_only_helper"),
+            "private helper without callers is dead"
+        );
+
+        // Opt-in: pub items are reported again.
+        let all = find_dead_code(
+            &conn,
+            pid,
+            &DeadCodeOptions {
+                include_pub_api: true,
+                ..Default::default()
+            },
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+        let names_all: Vec<&str> = all.iter().map(|d| d.name.as_str()).collect();
+        assert!(names_all.contains(&"chunk_markdown_embed_aware"));
+        assert!(names_all.contains(&"internal_only_helper"));
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 507da76..9cca04b 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -510,6 +510,11 @@ enum Command {
         /// Include test functions (test_*, _test) in results
         #[clap(long)]
         include_tests: bool,
+        /// Include public API surface (pub/export items) in results.
+        /// By default they are skipped: they are consumed externally, so
+        /// missing internal callers does not make them dead (#520).
+        #[clap(long)]
+        include_pub: bool,
         /// Minimum lines of code (filter out tiny functions)
         #[clap(long)]
         min_lines: Option<u32>,
@@ -1591,15 +1596,16 @@ async fn main() -> Result<()> {
         }
         Command::DeadCode {
             include_tests,
+            include_pub,
             min_lines,
             json,
         } => {
-            let conn = index::open_global_index()?;
+            // Resolve the project root the same way `cora index` does, so
+            // dead-code queries the workspace the index actually built (#522).
             let cwd = std::env::current_dir().with_context(|| "failed to get cwd")?;
-            let project_id = index::schema::get_or_create_project(
-                &conn,
-                cwd.to_str().with_context(|| "invalid UTF-8 in cwd path")?,
-            )?;
+            let project_root = index::resolve_project_root(&cwd).unwrap_or(cwd.clone());
+            let conn = index::open_global_index()?;
+            let project_id = index::ensure_project(&conn, &project_root)?;
 
             // Load config for entry_point_patterns
             let config = crate::config::loader::load_config(
@@ -1617,6 +1623,7 @@ async fn main() -> Result<()> {
                 include_tests,
                 min_lines,
                 entry_point_patterns,
+                include_pub_api: include_pub,
             };
             let results = index::graph::find_dead_code(&conn, project_id, &opts)?;
             if json {
diff --git a/src/mcp/tools.rs b/src/mcp/tools.rs
index c93d780..875102a 100644
--- a/src/mcp/tools.rs
+++ b/src/mcp/tools.rs
@@ -211,11 +211,12 @@ pub fn list_tools() -> Vec<Tool> {
         // ─── Dead Code Detection ───
         Tool {
             name: "cora.dead_code".to_string(),
-            description: "Find potentially dead code — functions/methods with no callers in the codebase.".to_string(),
+            description: "Find potentially dead code — functions/methods with no callers in the codebase. Public API surface (pub/export) is skipped by default.".to_string(),
             input_schema: serde_json::json!({
                 "type": "object",
                 "properties": {
                     "include_tests": { "type": "boolean", "description": "Include test functions in results" },
+                    "include_pub_api": { "type": "boolean", "description": "Include public API surface (pub/export items); skipped by default since they are consumed externally" },
                     "min_lines": { "type": "integer", "description": "Minimum lines of code to report" }
                 },
                 "required": []
@@ -1019,6 +1020,10 @@ fn handle_dead_code(params: &serde_json::Value) -> ToolResult {
         .get("include_tests")
         .and_then(|v| v.as_bool())
         .unwrap_or(false);
+    let include_pub_api = params
+        .get("include_pub_api")
+        .and_then(|v| v.as_bool())
+        .unwrap_or(false);
     let min_lines = params
         .get("min_lines")
         .and_then(|v| v.as_u64())
@@ -1028,6 +1033,7 @@ fn handle_dead_code(params: &serde_json::Value) -> ToolResult {
         include_tests,
         min_lines,
         entry_point_patterns: vec![],
+        include_pub_api,
     };
 
     match crate::index::graph::find_dead_code(&conn, project_id, &opts) {