The remains of fortified settlements in far eastern Timor have attracted the attention of archaeologists and led to speculation regarding the underlying drivers of fortification. In this paper, I draw attention to the fact that fortified settlements were not a localised development in far eastern Timor, but in fact are characteristic of a large swathe of southern Maluku. Using evidence from the historical record and from language, I contend that fortified settlement-building cannot be attributed to particular climatic or socioeconomic conditions but is best understood as a cultural feature diffused on a regional level.