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I think you should tell us all why you think it isn't fluffy...
I'll do my best :-)

In Dames' The Silbury Treasure he provides over 300 chapter references, a two page bibliography, two pages of source references for his illustrations and a three page index. In his The Avebury Cycle Dames provides over 600 chapter references, three pages of bibliographic references, half a page of source references for his illustrations and a four page index. In his Merlin and Wales there are nearly 500 chapter references, a two page bibliography, half a page of source references for his illustrations, a two and a half page index and notes on the Welsh alphabet and pronunciation (that was a quick count so it might not be spot on).

You may describe Dames' content as 'fluffy' but in my humble opinion anyone who has done the amount of reading and research the above indicates Dames has done, and has organised it as clearly and methodically as he has in his books, deserves a considerable degree of respect. I grant you that some might think Dames a bit of an eccentric (I went to a talk of his once where he stood with one foot in a bucket of water :-) but on the couple of occasions I've met him he was fascinating to listen to and he spoke about his ideas with conviction, modesty and sincerity - qualities I also find in his writings.

so he has good refs to other peoples material and stand in a bucket of water?
Gone from 'Fluffy' to 'LA Granola'* in my book!

*Granda. Breakfast cereal with equal parts of Fruits, Nuts and Flakes

It's not really the referencing in itself, is it. It's the conclusions he draws from the information. For example, he quote NEwham about the importance of the sun and the moon in timing important annual events in settled agricultural communities. Which is a fair logical thing to think. You can make such a claim from looking at contemporary cultures and records in archives. But immediately after this DAmes says "At Silbury, solar and lunar calenars were brought together within the body of the supreme Mother." It's a non sequitur. You can't extrapolate like that, just because you want to believe it. I might as well say 'At the town car park, solar and lunar calendars..'. There's as little evidence offered.