A moated settlement (環濠集落) (English: moated settlements, ditched settlements, ditch-enclosed settlements ) is a human settlement (village) surrounded by a moat. It is thought to be a new settlement boundary facility brought from the continent along with paddy rice agriculture. When a moat is surrounded by a water moat, it is written moat encircling, and when a moat is surrounded by a empty moat, it is written moat encircling to distinguish it.