Many members of the expedition team suffered facial disfigurement after their trip to the White City, also known as the City of the Monkey God in Honduras.
La Ciudad Blanca, or the White City, also referred to as the City of the Monkey God, was forgotten in the pristine tropical rainforest of Mosquitia in eastern Honduras since the 16th century, after all its inhabitants left, believing the place was cursed and that it killed them with a strange disease.
Despite the eerie legends, a group of explorers and archaeologists from the United States and Honduras decided to visit this ruin in 2015.
In a recent article, Ancient Origins quoted American author Douglas Preston, a member of the archaeological team, stating that indeed, unfortunate events occurred.
The White City depicted in a documentary painting and an artifact captured by the archaeological team at the site – (Photo credit).
Many expedition members contracted a rare disease after returning from the White City.
However, they assert that it was not a curse, but rather a type of parasitic infection.
They were diagnosed with leishmaniasis, a rare skin infection, contracted when victims are bitten by flies carrying the parasitic disease, with symptoms resembling leprosy.
Mr. Preston described the horrific symptoms of the disease to CBS News: “The parasite moves to the mucous membranes of your mouth and nose and basically eats them away. Your nose falls off, your lips fall off, and eventually your face becomes a massive, open sore.”
Mr. Preston also contracted the disease but received timely medical intervention. He stated that he does not regret the experience.
In a previous interview, this American author revealed that the number of infected individuals reached up to two-thirds of the expedition team. Some have recovered only to experience relapses in subsequent years.
This trip also enabled the explorers to uncover numerous artifacts – dating from 1000 to 1500 AD – carved from stone and clay, including some gold items.
Many remote sensing surveys using LiDAR technology also helped them map the area.
Several studies and documentaries based on these findings have been published and will continue to be released in the future.
The White City continues to be shrouded in mystery, as very few exploration teams have ventured there since a pilot accidentally discovered the white stone formations while flying over the jungles of Honduras a century ago.
It has also inspired a number of stories and films related to ancient civilizations.
