Researchers find city of 'Monkey God,' nearly lose faces

A research crew went on a quest for the "Lost City of the Monkey God." They nearly lost their faces for it.

A research crew and an author delved deep into the Central American jungle looking for the "Lost City of the Monkey God." They found the mark, but contracted a nasty tropical disease that nearly cost them their faces. less A research crew went on a quest for the "Lost City of the Monkey God." They nearly lost their faces for it.

A research crew and an author delved deep into the Central American jungle looking for the "Lost City ... more Photo: Dave Yoder, Dylan Baddour Photo: Dave Yoder, Dylan Baddour Image 1 of / 42 Caption Close Researchers find city of 'Monkey God,' nearly lose faces 1 / 42 Back to Gallery

A group of explorers and archaeologists apparently learned about the anger of an ancient "Monkey God" the hard way.

The group, led by author Douglas Preston, pushed through thick jungles and dealt with poisonous snakes to find the fabled "Lost City of the Monkey God" deep in the 20,000-mile Mosquitia rain forest, which crosses the Honduras-Nicaragua border on the Pacific Ocean side of the countries.

The locals abandoned the place - one of the last unexplored spots on the planet - in the 16th Century, believing it to be cursed. Of course, the area was also in the midst of an invasion of European explorers bringing slavery and disease to the area, which may have had something to do with the departures.

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The trip took three years to plan and weeks to execute. The group found the city, along with some ancient rocks and signs of life at what was also known as "The White City."

So, while they survived snakes and other hazards and triumphed, the "Monkey God" may have gotten his revenge after artifacts were disturbed.

The group realized upon their return to America that they brought back Leishmaniasis. It's a nasty parasite spread by sand flies. In short, Preston told CBS News, "The parasite migrates to the mucous membranes of your mouth and your nose, and basically eats them away. Your nose falls off, your lips fall off, and eventually your face becomes a gigantic, open sore."

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Yep, this stuff makes a person's face fall off.

Preston and several members of the expedition had to undergo treatment, which is no picnic. Side effects of the drugs used include vomiting, cramps and neurological effects.

So, given the dangers getting there and the prospect of a face-eating illness, researchers are content to leave the lost city as lost. And, they'll happily leave the "Monkey God" alone for a while.

Watch the CBS News report on Preston's trip and treatment for the tropical disease here.