The Skalvians in the context of the other Baltic tribes, circa 1200 CE. The Eastern Balts are shown in brown hues while the Western Balts are shown in green. The boundaries are approximate.
According to Prussian chronicles, the tribe's name is derived from Prussian brothers named Schalauo. The centre of Scalovia was supposed to have been Ragnit (Raganite).
The inhabitants can be traced back to burial grounds with cremated remains and occasional graves of horses. Judging from the diggings, Scalovians are assumed to have been related to other Balts such as Curonians and more distantly to Eastern Balts such as Latvians and Lithuanians.