Were there any specific global events, trends, or common-but-localized occurrences that historians believe led to these myths? They occur around the world and often have striking similarities despite total lack of contact. For example the Cherokee believe they took refuge in the Big Canoe during a cataclysmic flood until the top of Enotah was exposed and the Hebrews believed that Noah refuged on the ark until it ran aground on Ararat. Just curious to know if historians have any clues why that theme was so widespread.

Thanks