Archeologists in Egypt's Western Desert have uncovered 200 mummies - part of a huge mummy cemetery dating back to the early Greco-Roman era more than 2,000 years ago.

The head of the archeological team Zahi Hawass said the cemetry, within the city of Bawiti 300 kilometres southwest of Cairo, is believed to contain more than 10,000 mummies, making it the biggest ever uncovered.

Some of the mummies, including those of wealthy people and rulers, were reported to have golden masks, others were covered with plaster or resting in pottery coffins.