Savoy Name Meaning

Douglas Savoy

was an American author, explorer, and cleric. He is best known for his claims to have discovered more than 40 lost cities in Peru.Born in Bellingham, Washington, and serving as a navy gunner during World War II, he rose to prominence in the 1960s for leading a number of expeditions into the dense Peruvian jungle. Known as the "real Indiana Jones,"[1] Savoy was credited with finding four of Peru's most important archaeological sites, including Vilcabamba, the last refuge for the Incas before the Spanish conquistadors took over. He followed this up a year later in 1965 by being one of the first people to visit another site he called Gran Pajaten.[2] Archaeologists have criticised his claims, eg his claim that King Solomon acquired gold and precious stones from Peru (Ophir) and have pointed out that finding the ruins in Peru “is about as hard as finding elephants in a zoo.”[3] His claims to discoveries of Vilcabamba and Gran Pajaten and other sites are disputed.[4] His claims for King Solomon's visits to Peru and white Chachapoyans are rejected by archaeologists. Many archaeologists considered him a charlatan who damaged sites, attracted looters, and appropriated the work of others.[5] Archaeologist Keith Muscott said "Savoy's involvement in the Chachapoya saga clouds the scientific issues, attracts a lot of crackpots and scares off serious researchers who don't want to constantly have to deal with Savoy's tedious legacy of lost cities/El Dorado fantasies and delusions."[6]