Justin Nels Carlson spent six weeks in the Andes Mountains in Casma, Peru this summer excavating at the El Purgatorio archaeological site under the direction of Clemson University.

Carlson received grants for archaeological study in Peru from the College of Charleston, where he will be a senior in the fall.&bsp; Carlsons work focus included excavation of architecture and GIS mapping of topography of what is believed to be the capital of the Casma culture. The site yielded evidence of long occupation from AD 600 to 1350.

Carlson is a 2007 graduate of Polk County High School and is majoring in anthropology and history with minor in archaeology at College of Charleston.