Crossword Genius

Carefulness with which engineer approaches old Chaldean city (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

rigour

'carefulness' is the definition.
(rigour can mean being careful or thorough)

'engineer approaches old chaldean city' is the wordplay.
'engineer' becomes 'rig' (as a verb).
'approaches' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'old' becomes 'o' (common abbreviation eg in OE for Old English).
'chaldean city' becomes 'Ur' (city in the Hebrew bible).
'rig'+'o'+'ur'='RIGOUR'

'with which' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for rigour that I've seen before include "Strict exactitude" , "Hardship" , "Severity, harshness" , "Austerity - strictness" , "Trial" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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