People Cain battered (4)

I believe the answer is:

inca

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'people cain battered' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.

'cain battered' is the wordplay.
'battered' indicates an anagram.
'cain' is an anagram of 'INCA'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for inca that I've seen before include "Pre-conquest South American people" , "member of historic race" , "One of an old race of South America" , "South American (historical)" , "Very old Peruvian (4)." .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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