Weapon duke regularly found in an ancient region (9)

I believe the answer is:

macedonia

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'ancient region' is the definition.
'Macedonia' can be an answer for 'region' (Macedonia is an example). I am not sure about the 'ancient' bit.

'weapon duke regularly found in an' is the wordplay.
'weapon' becomes 'mace' ().
'duke' becomes 'd' (abbreviation).
'regularly' means one should take alternating letters (regularly take one letter, leave next etc.).
'found'+'in'+'an'='foundinan'
The alternating letters of 'foundinan' are 'onia'.
'mace'+'d'+'onia'='MACEDONIA'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for macedonia that I've seen before include "Southeast European country" , "European country, capital Skopje" , "Landlocked Balkan country" , "republic" , "Alexander the Great's homeland" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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