Tlatelolco comes from "Xaltelolco" meaning mountain of sand. The story told by the ancestors is of a settlement founded on an island as a political strategy to maintain peace and stability.

Prior to Tenochtitlan, this center fought dozens of battles. One of the bloodiest was against the Spanish in 1523, but urban development did not decay completely and it remained dormant, although in ruins, making use of the existing roads, canals and people.

In the mechanics of the war, the Mexicas, Toltecs and many pre-Hispanic groups were bloody in excess, so interpretation of findings from corpses and weapons continue. In fact, some of these remains are located in the site museum, located within the University Cultural Center.

Today, the ruins of the Plaza de las Tres Culturas correspond to the ceremonial precinct of Tlatelolco, which is reminiscent of Tenochtitlan, both in logic, as in the objective which was to form a city where exchange and trade were the main activity.

More than an archaeological site, it represents one of the hubs of Mexican civilization, many of the traditions, habits and words were born here and are still preserved in the background of culture.