LOS ANGELES (November 29, 2012)--A provocative new study suggests the Grand Canyon is much older than commonly believed.

Using a new tool to date the age of rocks, a team of researchers contends the western section of the Grand Canyon may be 70 million years old, which would put its formation during the era when dinosaurs roamed the Earth.

Their research was published online Thursday in the journal Science.

The new study challenges the prevailing theory that the Grand Canyon is geologically young.

Many scientists believe much of the gorge was carved by the Colorado River 5 million to 6 million years ago.