Application of the response function technique to the load of the Cape Verde Archipelago on the Cape Verde Rise suggests the effective elastic thickness of the rise is only 15¿3 km. This is thinner than would be expected, for 130 Ma crust, from previous observations worldwide which suggest a value of 30+10 km. This thinning is considered to be substantial evidence that the lithosphere of the Cape Verde Rise has undergone thermal rejuvenation. Comparison of this study with previous work at Hawaii suggests that reduction of the effective elastic thickness over swells with large depth anomalies is related to plate motion over the mantle heat source.