Pseudomorphs of the ancient world provide a snapshot of organisms that lived millions of years ago. Petrified wood, dinosaur bone and poop are a few of the common items. It only makes sense that palm trees go through the same process to become 'petrified' considering their place in the evolution chart that pre-dates most other plants.

I'm told there is an ancient palm bog by Alamo Lake in western Arizona, but I haven't visited. Petrified palm is also the Texas state stone. The few pieces I have came from garage/bucket sales so I don't know the origin. I love bucket sales!

Here a web page that describes the Texan.