Create the file s.c containing the following source code:

long long altstack[10] __attribute__ ((section ("STACK"), zero_init));

int main()
{
    return sizeof(altstack);	
}

Compile the source:

armcc -c s.c -o s.o

Link the object s.o and keep the STACK symbol:

armlink --keep=s.o(STACK) s.o --output=s.axf

Run the fromelf command to display the symbol table and detailed information on each segment and section header:

fromelf --text -s -v s.o

Locate the STACK and altstack symbols in the fromelf output, for example:

...
** Section #9

    Name        : .symtab
    Type        : SHT_SYMTAB (0x00000002)
    Flags       : None (0x00000000)
    Addr        : 0x00000000
    File Offset : 2792 (0xae8)
    Size        : 2896 bytes (0xb50)
    Link        : Section 10 (.strtab)
    Info        : Last local symbol no = 115
    Alignment   : 4
    Entry Size  : 16    Symbol table .symtab (180 symbols, 115 local)

      #  Symbol Name                Value      Bind  Sec  Type  Vis  Size
=========================================================================
...
     16  STACK                      0x00008228   Lc    2  Sect  De   0x50
...

    179  altstack                   0x00008228   Gb    2  Data  Hi   0x50
...

The Sec column shows the section where the stack is placed. In this example, section 2.

Locate the section identified for the symbol in the fromelf output, for example:

...
====================================

** Section #2

    Name        : ER_ZI
    Type        : SHT_NOBITS (0x00000008)
    Flags       : SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE (0x00000003)
    Addr        : 0x000081c8
    File Offset : 508 (0x1fc)
    Size        : 176 bytes (0xb0)
    Link        : SHN_UNDEF
    Info        : 0
    Alignment   : 8
    Entry Size  : 0

====================================
...

This shows that the symbols are placed in a ZI execution region.