Honduras: The president of Honduras has given the green light to treasure hunters to plunder a rain forest to recover treasure from the mysterious 'Lost City of the Monkey God.'
Documentary film maker Steve Elkins stumbled across a wealth of artifacts and treasures after searching for what he believed was an ancient city buried deep within the largest untouched rainforest in Central America last year.
Aided by SAS soldiers, teams of explorers, scientists and archaeologists they thought they'd struck gold after uncovering treasures they believe belong to the 'Lost City of the Monkey God' which has been known internationally as the 'White City of Gold.'
Known locally as the legendary settlement of "La Ciudad Blanca" it is thought to contain untold treasures that could be valued at billions of pounds.
The Monkey God City or White City of Gold was recorded in correspondence five centuries ago in Europe when in 1526 King Charles V of Spain received a letter from his conquistadors reporting its treasures.
Now, following the latest discoveries, President Juan Orlando Hernandez has given his approval for the Colorado State University and National Geographic Society to dig up areas of the jungle they believe is harbouring hidden gems.
"Today a group of archaeologists and scientists is traveling to the White City to start excavations in coming days ," Hernandez said in a speech to university students.
"The rest of the world is talking about us and the White City, in tourism terms, and we want to put that in the context of the new infrastructure we are building: highways, airports, ports ,” the president said.
"We need to be ready to take advantage of this great opportunity."
Explorers have been trying to find the site for decades with a variety of expeditions having been launched over the years.
Around eighty years ago a group travelled to the region and were said to have communicated with indigenous people who told them that a Monkey God lived there.
Apparently the Monkey God developed a passion for human women and would seek them out to make them pregnant against their will.
Those who fell under his spell would then give birth to half-chimp half-human offspring.