This paper presents a geomorphological reconstruction of the urban landscape of Erbil (Kurdistan Region of Iraq), aimed at explaining how human groups settled the region since the prehistory and contributed modifying natural surface processes. Our reconstruction on landforms evolution is based on satellite and historical aerial images and field control allowing the reconstruction of changes in land use over time. The city of Erbil was established along a fertile alluvial plain during the Chalcolithic period and grew around the pristine citadel, which was likely built on top of fluvial features. Prior to the mid-20th century, Erbil was centred around the citadel and relied on traditional systems for water management such as artificial basins and qanats. The city underwent intense urban expansion since the 1950 s and changed its shape due to the construction of roads and residential and industrial areas, which led to the obliteration of the pristine fluvial network. The analysis of historical and current satellite images highlights the profound modification of the landscape triggered by human actions and a progressive shift of local land use from agricultural to urban. This, coupled with human agency on the natural hydrography led to the increase susceptibility of the city to geomorphological hazard (especially floods). Our investigation suggests that during the Anthropocene the dynamic of urbanization reach a tipping point, when excessive urban growth suffers the effect of geomorphological hazard. For that reason, urbanization in the Anthropocene must consider the existence of natural geomorphological processes.

本文介绍了埃尔比勒（伊拉克库尔德斯坦地区）城市景观的地貌重建，旨在解释人类群体自史前以来如何在该地区定居并为改变自然地表过程做出了贡献。我们对地貌演变的重建基于卫星和历史航空图像以及现场控制，从而可以重建土地利用随时间的变化。埃尔比勒市是在铜器时代沿着肥沃的冲积平原建立的，并围绕原始城堡发展起来，而城堡很可能建在河流之上。20 世纪中叶之前，埃尔比勒以城堡为中心，依靠人工盆地和坎儿井等传统水管理系统。自 20 世纪 50 年代以来，这座城市经历了剧烈的城市扩张，并因道路、住宅区和工业区的建设而改变了其面貌，导致原始河流网络消失。对历史和当前卫星图像的分析突显了人类活动引发的地貌深刻变化以及当地土地利用从农业向城市的逐步转变。再加上人类对自然水文学的影响，导致城市对地貌灾害（尤其是洪水）的敏感性增加。我们的调查表明，在人类世期间，城市化的动态达到了一个临界点，此时城市的过度增长受到了地貌灾害的影响。因此，人类世的城市化必须考虑自然地貌过程的存在。