早期城堡的类型被称作土堆与板。土堆是以泥土筑成的土堤，具有一定阔度和高度，一般有五十英尺高。土堆上面可以建筑大型的木制箭塔，土堆下面以木板围起，称为板筑，用来防护□仓、家畜围栏和用来居住的小屋。土堆与板筑就像一个小岛，被挖掘出来并注满水的壕沟所围绕，由一道桥梁和狭小陡峭的小径来互相连接。在危险的时候，如果守不着板筑的话，防卫的武力会撤退到箭塔里面。
The early types of castles were called mounds and slabs. A mound of earth is a dyke made of earth, with a certain width and height, generally 50 feet high. A large wooden arrow tower can be built on the top of the mound. The bottom of the mound is surrounded by wooden boards, which are called board building. They are used to protect warehouses, livestock fences and houses for living. The mound and slab are like an island, surrounded by ditches dug out and filled with water, and connected by a bridge and a narrow and steep path. When in danger, if you can't keep the plank, the defense force will retreat into the arrow tower.