Sandstones of aeolian origin have been identified from many periods of Earth’s history. They provide a record of the extent of ancient desert conditions and associated (paleo-) wind regimes. The creation of an aeolian stratigraphic record involves construction and accumulation of a sand sea or dune field and its preservation through subsidence, a rise in the regional water table, or burial. Comparisons between the environments of ancient aeolian sandstones and modern sand seas indicate that few are likely to be preserved in the rock record.