Location mapping and spatial analysis to reduce the risk of the disappearance of a past artefact (gypsum ceilings in Piedmont)

It is well ascertained that many geomatic tools are assumptions for preservation and development of CH and their environments. In this paper it is pointed out the accessibility of location mapping to represent complex phenomena by GIS and the chance to perform spatial analyses purposed to provide new readings about spatial based sets up concerning valuable artefacts that are not esteemed CH yet. The object of interest is a widespread handmade artefact that has grown in Piedmont for several centuries starting from the 16th century AD. They are the so called gypsum ceilings, constituted by load bearing panels. Avoiding the extinction of such heritage has the role of rebuilding the History and the Identity of the territory, and this can be obtained by sharing awareness of them and their geographical distribution. The achievement of location maps has highlighted extremely variable dynamics of spread, and some tests comprising some typical tools of spatial statistic have been performed: the first is the Spatial autocorrelation algorithm (Moran‟s I), while the second is the Average nearest neighbour algorithm. Both of them are aimed to provide a measure of the spatial distribution features and they are able to point out logical trend. Finally the central feature detection has single out two municipalities pertaining different geographical areas as a probable centre of dissemination of the phenomenon.