powerpc-elf/bin/ld: no memory region specified for loadable section `.abs.00010...

Perhaps someone can help me out here, for once google doesn't suffice.

I'm working on using gcc instead of DIAB for an embedded application.

I'm getting the error in the subject when linking a relatively large app for a freescale MPC5500. Using gcc 4.4.0 and binutils 2.19.1, both built with --target=powerpc-elf

The linker is correct, the link script doesn't provide instructions for the ".abs" section. But what is it? What kind of data does it contain? If this something I should be able to find in an object file or is it something gcc invents during linking? There is a large number of object files - anyone who knows a good way to search for a section name in multiple object files?

I expect the .abs section contains declarations that are set to absolute addresses. These might be things like interrupt or port declarations.

The org of this section would typically be set to zero.

Rather than search through the object files, is it possible to generate a map file when you build the application?