Giant Skeleton and Roman Coins Found in Jackson, Ohio      

Roman Emporer, Scipio Africanus (236–183 BC)

The Holmes County Republican, March 16, 1859
Discovery of a Mysterious Vault
Jackson, Ohio February 21.
     Our village is full of wonder and excitement.  Martin Marker, J. W. Hughes, and Washington Long, in digging a grave in the cemetery near this village, about ten o'clock, this morning, came to a large flat stone about four feet below the surface, which stopped their further progress, until they procured assistance and removed the stone from its resting place of ages when it was found to have closed the entrance to a subterranean vault.  All efforts thus far ( 3 P. M. ) to enter it with light have proved unsuccessful, on account of the foul air with which it is filled.  By means of a rake, human bone of gigantic size has been raised, and small chard of silver, with coins attached to each end.  The coins, though much defaced by time, have the appearance of those used among the Romans in the days of Scipio Africanus, though there were evident traces of hieroglyphic devices than cannot be deciphered.

       The men at the cemetery have by means of burning straw, made light in the vault and, though none have the courage to enter further than the entrance, it has been discovered that there is, immediately to the west of the opening, a chamber of about ten feet square, with steps dilapidated down its eastern side.  Three other chambers,rs branch out of this; one to the north, one to the south, and the other to the west. We are all curious of course, to know when and by whom these vaults were made and filled.