Egypt opens Bent Pyramid to visitors for first time since 1965

The pyramid is that of King Sneferu, the first pharaoh of Egypt’s fourth dynasty

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  The Bent pyramid of King Sneferu, the first pharaoh of Egypt's 4th dynasty, in the ancient royal necropolis of Dahshur on the west bank of the Nile River, south of the capital Cairo. AFP

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  A man walks through a passage inside the Bent Pyramid of Sneferu. EPA

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  Women look at recently discovered artefacts at the Bent Pyramid. AP

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  A detail of a sarcophagus, part of a new discovery south of King Amenemhat II’s pyramid at Dahshur necropolis. AFP

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  A sarcophagus, part of a new discovery south of King Amenemhat II’s pyramid at Dahshur necropolis. AFP

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  A man brushes off dust from a sarcophagus, part of a new discovery at Dahshur necropolis. AFP

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  Egypt's Antiquities Minister Khaled El Enany speaks in front of the Bent Pyramid of Sneferu. AFP

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  People gather during an inaugural ceremony in front of the Bent pyramid of King Sneferu. AFP

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  A man walks in front of one the Bent pyramid satellites, in the ancient royal necropolis of Dahshur. AFP

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  A man walks in front of one the Bent pyramid satellites, in the ancient royal necropolis of Dahshur. AFP

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  A sarcophagus, part of a new discovery south of King Amenemhat II’s pyramid at Dahshur necropolis. AFP

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  A man walks through a passage in the well-known bent pyramid of King Sneferu. AFP

Egypt on Saturday opened two ancient pyramids south of the capital Cairo and unveiled a collection of newly found sarcophagi, some containing well-preserved mummies.

Antiquities Minister Khaled Al Anani told reporters the Bent Pyramid of King Sneferu, the first pharaoh of Egypt’s fourth dynasty, and a nearby pyramid would be reopened to visitors for the first time since 1965.

He also said a team of archaeologists had uncovered sarcophagi and the remains of an ancient wall dating back to the Middle Kingdom, about 4,000 years ago.

The finds were made during excavation work in the royal necropolis of Dahshur on the west bank of the Nile River, in an area home to some of Egypt’s oldest pyramids.

“Several stone, clay and wooden sarcophagi were found and some contain mummies in good condition,” the antiquities ministry said in a statement.

The ancient wall stretches some 60 metres and is situated south of the pyramid of 12th dynasty pharaoh King Amenemhat II, also in the Dahshur necropolis.

The finds also included funerary masks as well as tools dating back to the Late Period – which spanned almost 300 years up to Alexander the Great’s conquest of Egypt in 332 BCE – used for cutting stones, the ministry said.

Egypt has in recent years sought to promote archaeological discoveries across the country in a bid to revive tourism, which took a hit from the turmoil that followed its 2011 uprising.