Armed with spears and hunting bows, the Baltic Archers took part in wars and battles of the northern lands, the tales of which are lost to us now.
(LON-kī-nī-kōs, "Those who use Bows")
By 3rd century BC, the Proto-Baltic tribes inhabiting forest of eastern Europe already divided themselves into West and East Balts. There were already significant cultural differences between the two. The western ones came in contact with more civilized people of Europe, settled and begun excavating amber, the Gold of Baltic. Combined, this gave them civilization boost and set them apart from their eastern kindred. The East Balts, it is believed, remained semi-nomadic, with rare, scattered settlements on hills. Mixed with Finno-Ugric tribes of the north, they traded textiles and products of forest with Scythians and Sarmatians. Even when roman traders arrive in these lands 300 years later, they note a difference between civilized Austjōs (Aestii), living on the coast, and nomadic Fennōs (Finns/Saami), living in the forest.
The West Balts knew and used iron in considerate amounts. Amber trade gave them wealth. Thus, they were probably able to field a regular army at time of need. Armed with spears and hunting bows, the Lonkīnīkōs took part in wars and battles of the northern lands, the tales of which are lost to us now.