Typically, the motte would be surrounded by a defensive moat. The earth excavated to form the moat was then used to create defensive embankments that were topped with a wooden palisade.

Duffus Castle in Moray is an example of a motte and bailey castle in Scotland. The first style of castle was called a motte and bailey. Duffus Castle in Moray is an example of a motte and bailey ...

Later earth mounds and timber towers were built forming a type of castle called a motte and bailey. However the timber ... keeps were built to protect the wooden structure within a stone wall ...