By 900 AD, the Vikings had perfected the techniques of drying and smoking fish, particularly cod and herring, to preserve their catches for long voyages and trade. This innovation was crucial for sustaining Viking expeditions and expanding their trade networks across Europe. The preservation methods developed by the Vikings reflect their adaptability and resourcefulness in maritime exploration.

The Viking use of dried and smoked fish stocks around 900 enabled sagas and skaldic poetry to recount explorations and heroic feats. Poets like Egil Skallagrimsson celebrated these maritime adventures, intertwining themes of survival and cultural identity, influencing later narratives in Norse literature that emphasized the bond between people and their environment.