Somebody: Well, that's right. Without evidence, it seems like the visual arts weren't especially interesting or well developed in this period. Protogeometric pottery isn't as extraordinary or unique as classical black and red figure pottery. Considering I was referring to visual arts implicitly, and not ship-building, the point stands.
I have to say, I don't care for the modern fashion for abolishing all dark ages. Suddenly Visigothic Spain is distinguished by the title late antique. Some periods were less urbanized, less literate, and less artistically cultured than others. Just as some cultures are today. I don't know why this should be surprising since scarcely anyone would deny these same distinctions amongst individuals. The debate should then be shifted to precisely *which* periods were the darker ones.