Atoctli,"Tierra fertil" = Atoc
Ohtli,"Camino" = yo
Tecatl, "Persona "; aqui se trasforma
en el gentilicio y adquiere el valor fonetico "neca" = neca
The diverse cultural migrations in the southeastern Mexico Basin interacted with the natural environment in various ways, understanding and adapting to the climate and altitude, leaving testimonies of their knowledge, worldview, and time. Part of these survive today, even functioning in the manner and for the purposes for which they were designed in the past, such as the terrace agricultural system, which also involves population settlement patterns (ancient settlements), petroglyphs, tecorvitos, tehucholes, and other characteristics of the biocultural landscape heritage in Milpa Alta. The work of Calpulli Tecalco constitutes the documentation, research, and contributes to the rehabilitation of this heritage.
In 2003, the project The Terrace Agricultural System in Milpa Alta, .D.F., was implemented with the objective of identifying the qualities of the system, including construction characteristics and age, production, among others. Through the archaeologists Hugo Arciniega, Luis Alberto Martos, in the company of the biologist Hector Celedón and other members of Calpulli Tecalco, the first field trips began, with the knowledge of the inhabitants of the region, who are knowledgeable about their cultural heritage being essential.
Part of the work of Calpulli Tecalco, is to document and disseminate the importance of dry stone architecture, its need for the conservation of the territory and food production, among others. Dry stone architecture, also known as "dry wall" or "bone", is about unfaced stone stacked and fitted, without mortar, cement or coatings. It is part of the cultural landscape and the intensive agriculture system of Milpa Alta, represented by means of cultivation terraces, retaining walls, tecorrales, platforms and other structures, such as the "tecórvitos", which are found in almost all the hills, slopes and ravines of the ancient Malacachtepec Momoxco .
Territory: Memory and Prospect. Notes to Think the Architecture of Milpa Alta The work presented here is a pilot test for the development of a visual dictionary of the architecture of San Pedro Actopan, which aims to recognize the territory, its landscapes, and its constructions. The work was carried out in 2016 and was directed by professors Antonio Plá and Gabriel Konzevik of the Max Cetto workshop and carried out by a Social Service brigade from the Faculty of Architecture of the UNAM within the framework of a tripartite research project. "Territory: Memory and Prospect. Notes to Think the Architecture of Milpa Alta", under the coordination of Dr. Ruth Guzik Glanz, sponsored by the UACM, and with the participation of the aforementioned association Callpulli Tecalco and the Faculty of Architecture of the UNAM.