Not all diseases leave their mark on the bones. The major killers of the past, such as the infectious diseases of childhood, gastroenteritis, pneumonia and septicaemia from infected wounds, as well as cardiovascular and neurological conditions, in general leave no trace. Joint disease, however, does leave its mark on the bones, and along with trauma and dental disease the arthritides comprise most of the evidence for disease in ancient humans as revealed in their skeletal remains.