Egypt opens ancient pyramids for first time since 1960s

Egypt has reopened two pyramids to visitors for the first time since 1965, unveiling a ­collection of newly found sarcophagi.

A man walks through a passage in the Bent Pyramid of King Sneferu, which has been closed to visitors since 1965. Picture: AFP

Egypt has reopened 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 said at the weekend 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 uncovered sarcophagi and the remains of an ancient wall dating back to the Middle Kingdom about 4000 years ago.

The Bent Pyramid, which was built during the Old Kingdom of the Pharaoh of Sneferu, in about 2600BC, is unique in that it has two internal structures. The Bent represents a transitional form of pyramid construction between the Djoser Step Pyramid (2667- 2648BC) and the Meidum Pyramid (also about 2600BC).

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. Picture: AFP

The finds were made during excavations in the royal necropolis of Dahshur on the west bank of the Nile, 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. The ancient wall stretches 60m 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 332BC — used for cutting stones, the ministry said.

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

REUTERS, AP