Broken and damaged Bronze Age metalwork has long been studied, but there is no methodology for identifying signs of intentional versus unintentional action. Past approaches have tended to rely on assumptions about how such finds were damaged. Drawing on the material properties of copper alloys, as well as on recent research into wear-analysis and experimental fragmentation of bronze implements, this article presents a working methodology for identifying deliberate damage. Seven ‘Destruction Indicators’ are presented, with associated criteria, for making informed interpretations about archaeological artefacts. These contribute to a ‘Damage Ranking System’, an index for ranking damage on Bronze Age copper alloy objects based on the likelihood that damage was intentional. Two case studies illustrate how this system can be applied.

Introduction. Ricinodendron heudelotii (Euphorbiaceae), en voie de domestication au Cameroun, est un arbre fruitier sauvage aux amandes oléagineuses comestibles. En milieu naturel ou en pépinière, les plantules sont détruites par Diclidophlebia xuani (Hemiptera : Psyllidae). Matériel et méthodes. L’incidence des dégâts causés par ce ravageur dans les conditions naturelles a été évaluée sur des plantules âgées de moins de 3 mois, en milieu ombragé et en milieu sans ombrage. Les données ont été collectées dans deux sites des environs de Yaoundé entre avril et mai 2000. Résultats et discussion. L’analyse des résultats a montré que les indices de dégâts du psylle ont été plus élevés à Nkolondom qu’à Nkozoa, probablement à cause du nombre plus élevé de plantules dans le premier site que dans le deuxième ; quel que soit le site, les dégâts ont été plus spectaculaires en milieu sans ombrage qu’en milieu ombragé ; les dégâts ont également augmenté avec le développement de la plantule jusqu’à ce qu’elle soit complètement détruite avant d’atteindre quatre mois. Conclusion. En définitive, les plantules de R. heudelotii sont plus sensibles aux déprédations du psylle lorsqu’elles se développent en milieu sans ombrage.

The effects of increasing population densities of the cowpea pod-sucking bugs (PSB) Riptortus dentipes, Mirperus jaculus, Anoplocnemis curvipes and Nezara viridula were studied in caged potted cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) plants with infestation levels from 0 (control) to 12 adult bugs per cage. Generally, there was an increase in damage to cowpea (measured as damage to pods and seeds) with increasing in insect density. There was also a highly significant correlation between the number of infesting adult bugs and damage to pods and seeds, and a significant negative correlation between bug numbers and cowpea yield. The results suggest that control measures should be initiated at: 4 bugs (fourth instar and above) per 10 plants for R. dentipes and M. jaculus; 2 bugs per 10 plants for A. curvipes and 6 bugs per 10 plants for N. viridula at podding stage.

In a comparative situation, the moths Plodia interpunctella (Hubn.) and Ephestia cautella (Wlk.) caused more damage in groundnuts (41.85% for P. interpunctella; 29.21% for E. cautella) than in maize, when these commodities were stored for 1 month in plastic jars. For maize stored for 3 months in plastic and traditional storage gourds, the weight losses caused by the moths were: P. interpunctella—15.48% in jars; 4.53% in gourds; E. cautella—20.68% in jars; 4.12% in gourds. Orange peel suppressed two-thirds of the populations of P. interpunctella and E. cautella at a dosage of 20.0g/100g maize. Neem leaves caused 100% mortality of P. interpunctella at 15.0g/100g groundnut and suppressed more than half the population of E. cautella at 5g/100g groundnut. The results show that the plant materials utilised have some insecticidal properties against P. interpunctella and E. cautella over a short period.

Pearl millet, Pennisetum americanum L. occupies a large proportion of the area growing millets in Africa. Consequently the insect pests that attack this species have received attention over other millets. A list of the major species is presented. Actual data on losses due to insect pests on pearl millet are not readily available. Crop loss assessment methods using incidence and damage ratios are discussed. Quantitative losses determined from insecticide trials at research station are also presented.