Where did the Slavs set up their villages? how were they protected?

The Slavs built their villages on heights near various reservoirs. Settlements were built from several houses, around them were placed palisades of thick logs. The edges of the palisade were sharp, which created protection from intruders. Forests and swamps on the way to the village also created an obstacle for enemies. The houses of the Slavs had a hearth inside, a place where they could cook food and heat the house. Not far from the house there was a barn in which cattle were kept. The dugouts served as a place for stocks of grain and other products. In the 10-11th centuries, the Slavs began to build powerful fortresses, which closed the passage to convenient roads, and dug a moat.