Member of old empire, preserved? (5)

I believe the answer is:

incan

'member of old empire' is the definition.
(as in the Incan Empire)

I don't understand the rest of the clue.

(Other definitions for incan that I've seen before include "Former tribesman" , "Relating to a pre-conquest people of Peru" , "Royal Family member" , "Relating to pre-conquest Peruvians" , "like former S American civilisation" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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