Whose work first explained how deserts can preserve ancient footprints and fossils so well?

There is no single person responsible for this idea, but desert preservation has been explained through modern sedimentology and paleontology. In dry climates, fine sediments can harden, be buried quickly, and remain relatively undisturbed, allowing footprints, burrows, and even soft-sediment structures to survive. Famous examples include dinosaur tracks in desert regions and ancient human footprints preserved in arid basins. These studies show why deserts are among the best places to discover fragile traces of the past.