That year's Treasure Act makes the process for gold and silver finds over 300 years old absolutely clear.

BBC: Watching the detectorists

In theory, when someone unearths anything over 300 years old, he is supposed to contact the Directorate-General of Antiquities, which has three months to examine the object or site before deciding whether to commandeer it.

ECONOMIST: A Phoenician statue for my coffee-table

That's when New Orleans will turn 300 years old, or if you start over and count time forward from the storm -- as so many in this region were forced to do -- it will be in its 13th year of renewal.

CNN: 'Super Gras' a big score for New Orleans

When the Royal Bank of Scotland and the Bank of Scotland flashed dirks over England's ailing NatWest, they renewed a feud almost 300 years old.

FORBES: Golden age redux