private static int findSeparator(String s) {

        int result = s.indexOf('-');
        if (result == -1) {
            result = s.indexOf(',');
        }
        if (result == -1) {
            result = s.indexOf(' ');
        }
        if (result == -1) {
            result = s.indexOf('.');
        }
        return result;
    }

    /**
     * Creates a year from a string, or returns null (format exceptions 
     * suppressed).
     *
     * @param s  the string to parse.
     *
     * @return <code>null</code> if the string is not parseable, the year 
     *         otherwise.
     */
    private static Year evaluateAsYear(String s) {

        Year result = null;
        try {
            result = Year.parseYear(s);
        }
        catch (TimePeriodFormatException e) {
            // suppress
        }
        return result;