Date core layers of ancient capital (6)

I believe the answer is:

athens

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'ancient capital' is the definition.
'athens' can be an answer for 'capital' (capital of Greece). I'm not sure about the 'ancient' bit.

'date core layers' is the wordplay.
'core' indicates the central letters.
'layers' becomes 'hens' (I've seen this in another clue).
The central letters of 'date' are 'at'.
'at'+'hens'='ATHENS'

'of' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for athens that I've seen before include "City of the Parthenon" , "Hasten to European city" , "Hasten to Greek city" , "Hasten to Greece" , "Hasten to the Hellenic city" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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