It is does not seem logical to suspect Quercus virginiana to be the
type of wood used in Noah's ark because Q. virginiana is native to
North America. The name gopherwood comes from the Bible so its origin
would seem to have no relation to gophers native to North America.

The origin of plant common names is often not as simple as the name
seems to suggest. More logical candidates would be Old World tree
species known to be used in ship-building by ancient peoples.

One suggestion is that gopherwood referred not to a specific tree
species but to "laminated wood", a technique that may have been
required for such a large ship. Another suggestion is that it was
referring to "pitched wood", which is wood waterproofed with pitch.
http://www.christiananswers.net/q-eden/gopherwood.html


David R. Hershey


Garry Denke wrote:
Gopherwood Range Theory
John Denke, Biologist
University of North Texas
Fall Semester, 1999

Abstract:

Biologists know that gophers are found only in the Western Hemisphere.
The gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) is its eldest endangered
species living in a Southeastern U.S. range. Also living in this range
(now larger), is the resilient Southern live oak, species (Quercus
virginiana). It has the strongest, naturally-curved massive branches
needed for large-scale wooden shipbuilding. The oldest commissioned
ship still afloat in the world, "Old Ironsides", is built from these
gophers' woods (evergreen forests). Thus "gopher wood" in name, as
limited by its range, is quite possibly the same wood species as USS
Constitution's: Quercus virginiana (after Philip Miller, botanist).

Other biologists suggest three of the four known Gopherus living
species: G. agassizii, G. berlandieri and G. flavomarginatus. However,
all three range in deserts (no forests). Ancient stone anchors, similar
to 5,000-year-old anchors found at Bimini and the Middle East, are
common along U.S. Gulf Coast hurricane "flood" zones.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gopher_wood

Parentheses around "flood"?
Should "zones" be "areas"?

Thanks for helping.