Here is a list of the documents that I found helpful while studying this issue. These links were valid and checked at the time this paper was put together. Google (or its cache) can always help you locate a copy if these links aren't valid anymore.
Linux Kernel 2.4 Internals by Tigran Aivazian at The Linux Documentation Project.
ELF: From the Programmer's Perspective by Hongjiu Lu linked to from https://www.linux.co.cr/free-unix-os/review/acrobat/950517.pdf
- The info page for "ld".
- The GNU GCC Manual, specifically the parts about specifying attribtues: