¥Jacobovici & Pellegrino claim this is a cross, tilted to represent Jesus carrying it.
¥Some have suggested it is a masonÕs mark, which is sometimes used on ossuaries to align the lid with the bottom.
¥Its close connection with the name suggests it may be an Òalef,Ó the first letter of the Hebrew/Aramaic alphabet. It might alternatively be a Òtav.Ó