Michael A. Malpass, professor of anthropology at Ithaca College, recently co-edited “The Distant Provinces in the Inka Empire: Toward a Deeper Understanding of Inka Provincialism,” a book that explores the ways that the ancient Incan people controlled their large empire.

Malpass has traveled to Peru 10 times since 1980 for archeological research. He maintains an active program in Peru where he is involved in studies of the early occupants of the southern Andes.

Staff Writer Lauren Barber spoke to Malpass about his experiences as an anthropologist and author.

Lauren Barber: How did you first become interested in field work and anthropological culture research?

Michael A. Malpass: When I was a kid, my mother always worked so we could take trips as a family. She enjoyed going to foreign societies, and I guess she must have had an interest in archeology. We went to Mexico and saw the pyramids and to South America and saw Machu Picchu. Because I had always had an interest in archeology, it was my minor, and it became my major.

LB: What kind of anthropological and archaeological work did you do in Peru?

MM: My dissertation work was on the earliest people who lived along the coast of Peru. I studied their adaptation to a desert environment. When I got done with my doctorate, I did some work on the Incas — the most recent culture before the Spaniards — and the pre-Inca groups right before them. In the ’90s, I decided I was still interested in those early occupations of people and their hunting and gathering, so I went back to the south coast of Peru, and I’ve had a project there recently. I’m hoping to go back soon to continue that research.

LB: What is the most interesting archeological work you have done?

MM: It’s all interesting to me because archeology is just fascinating. Some of the more interesting things I’ve found were archeological sites where there were cultures unexpectedly. When I was doing my dissertation work, there was a particular group that lived only along the coast and I found evidence up at the top of the mountains, which to my knowledge, is still the only time anybody has ever found it, probably because I’m the only one silly enough to go look up there. It’s those unexpected things that are the most memorable.

LB: What is the central theme to your new book on the Incan empire?

MM: It’s the sequel to a book I published in 1993. That book looked at how the Incan empire, which was spread over much of western South America, ruled their empire. In 2004, my co-editor and I decided it was time to revisit that question because there were areas we hadn’t covered and lots of people had done more detailed research since then.

LB: What kind of advice would you give to students who are interested in archeology and anthropology?

MM: Jump in. Get involved. Our department has lots of opportunities for doing archeology. There are lots of excavation opportunities all over the country and all over the world that we can connect students to. If [students] think that’s what they want to do, we can figure out a way to get them some opportunities.