The Santa Cecilia Acatitlán archeological site is in the center of the town of the same name, in the municipality of Tlalnepantla, State of Mexico. The name Acatitlán comes from the Nahuatl and means the place “among the reeds.” The history of Acatitlán can be traced back to 1180-1200, with the arrival of Chichimec groups coming from the north of the country, who mixed with survivors of the Toltec culture during their migration, which is why they are known as Toltec-Chichimecs. Acatitlán was founded by the captains who accompanied Xolotl.

The first archeological investigations of the site were in 1923 and 1924. In 1961 the architect Eduardo Pareyón Moreno excavated and consolidated the sole pyramid building, crowned by a temple. It has a stairway with balustrades and in the upper part there are two large incense burners. This pyramid was part of the place’s ceremonial center.

Excavations have uncovered the presence of four building stages, the last of which has only left the remains of the stairway. The south side of the pyramid’s third building stage was reconstructed, including the temple, whose roof was formed of sloping slabs decorated with smooth studs. The restoration was based on models made in clay from the pre-Hispanic era. To the north side of the pyramid we can see the structure of the second building stage without a temple.

The Dr. Eusebio Dávalos Hurtado Museum of Mexica Sculpture is adjacent to the site. The exhibition is in a late-nineteenth-century house and houses a collection of Mexica ceramic and stone sculptures. It also has three galleries recreating the living area, dining area and kitchen of a country house of this period.