Egypt opens Bent Pyramid, not seen by public since 1960s

Egypt opened two ancient pyramids to the public, south of the capital Cairo, and unveiled new discoveries including a number of well-preserved mummies.

Antiquities Minister Khaled al-Anani said that the Bent Pyramid of King Sneferu, the first pharaoh of Egypt's 4th dynasty, would be unveiled. A nearby pyramid would also be reopened to visitors for the first time since 1965.

A team of archaeologists had uncovered sarcophagi, he said, along with the remains of an ancient wall dating back to the Middle Kingdom some 4,000 years ago, which was found during excavation work in the royal necropolis of Dahshur.

The area on the west bank of the Nile River, in an area that contains 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. 

Also uncovered were funerary masks as well as tools dating back to the Late Period, the ministry said.

Egypt has discovered a trove of treasures in recent years, as it attempts to promote archaeological discoveries and revive tourism, which nosedived after 2011.