Th e main task of this work is to determine the meaning of weapons and equestrian equipment in the hierarchy of burials of the Sambian-Natangian (Dolkeim-Kovrovo) civilisation of the Migration Period and the Early Merovingian Period, corresponding to the Balts, Aestii of written sources of the 6th century (Cassiodorus, Jordanes). In total, more than 180 burials with weapons and spurs have been identifi ed from this time. Th e weapons are dominated by combat knives, while spears, axes and shields are less common. Burials with weapons and spurs at some burial grounds, they are scattered over the entire investigated area and do not form pronounced clusters. Th ese are, for example, the necropolises Lauth-Bolshoye Isakovo or Schlakalken-3. In other cases, it is possible to identify zones of concentration of burials with military equipment, for example, in the necropolises Corejten-Putilovo, Dollkeim- Kovrovo, Grebieten-Okunevo, Hünenberg-Rantau-Dobroe. It is diffi cult to say whether the identifi ed concentrations of such graves correspond to any real social groups (families? clans?). It is also necessary to note the unevenness in the richness of the funerary inventory in diff erent necropolises. Th is diff erence is clearly evident in the armament of, for example, the burial grounds of Mitino or Zaostrovye-1, where there are very few or no weapons at all, in comparison, for example, with the Warnikam-Pervomayskoye necropolis, where they are found much more oft en. Th e diff erence is also manifested in the wealth of inventory in diff erent parts of the same necropolis, as can be seen from the example of the Mitino burial ground. It turned out that weapons play a limited role as a social marker and are inherent in a signifi cant part of male burials. Th e presence of “professional” weapons (shields) and equestrian equipment (spurs) in the burials clearly indicates that among the Aestii there were people who were profi cient in this equipment. Th e spread of the fashion for belts, dating back to the late Roman military tradition, as well as the presence of spurs in burials, may indicate the emergence of a “military” culture, which resembles German culture in its external features. Maybe it is worth talking about the beginning of the formation of a permanent contingent of professional soldiers (squads)? At the same time, according to a number of signs, the burials of the leaders, most likely performing military functions, are distinguished, that in the burial inventory is emphasized by the presence of prestigious weapons and horse gear, drinking horns and the burial of two or more horses.