>>>>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stirling_Hoard
>>>>
>>>>I can't recall ever hearing of a better example!
>>>
>>>and with a good chance of being tax free as well...
>>
>>In the UK treasure trove is split 50/50 with the landowner so I guess thats a sort of tax..
>
>but also a motivation for the landowner to invite/allow searchers on their ground...

The laws as they are now seem well-designed to encourage exploration AND reporting of finds to the authorities, so they can be properly examined archaeologically.

Check out some of the links here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_hoards_in_Britain , some very interesting reading. The finds have included items from a wide span of history and most of the world as it was then known.

One example, the Rillaton Gold Cup: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rillaton_gold_cup

"The cup became lost after discovery but turned up years later in the dressing room of King George V as a receptacle for his collar studs."