Wood was kind of a big deal.
Not only was timber traded for precious metals, but certain trees and groves of trees were thought to be holy. Makes sense, if you think about the fact that tree groves were around before religious temples were built. Vikings also believed that the entire fabric of the universe (which was comprised of nine worlds) was held together by the World Ash, or Yggdrasil. Maybe now you’ll be a little more appreciative of all those #2 pencils you blew through in school.